Date Posted: 6/10/2012 11:45:59 PM
Posted By: Ronkip08@yahoo.com Membership Level: Gold Total Points: 1949
Agroforestry is a practice of growing crops, rearing animals along tree planting on the same unit/piece of land. This is an important practice in Kenya especially where land is a limiting factor. Among its benefits are the following:- (i) source of firewood and food- this practice can provide a variety of things at a go especially food and firewood for cooking. (ii) Environmental conservation- trees are very important in bringing rainfall, it reduce the chance of drought and thus enhance food production. (iii) Soil conservation- trees provide a ground cover and the roots bind the soil together and thus prevent soil erosion. (iv) There is a mutual benefit from the practice since each type of farming depends on one another. For example trees benefit from animals manure while animals benefit from trees by feeding on the leaves and providing shade. Also crops benefit from the animal manure while animals feed on crops. (v) Economical type of farming- when carrying out out one practice for a particular type of farming you end up doing for both. For example when you are weeding crops you will end up weeding trees. When grazing animals under trees the animals dropping manure the trees.Importance of agroforestry.- Source of energy/wood fuel.- Source of food for human and animals (fodder).- Source of income from the sale of by-products of the trees or trees themselves.- They improve soil fertility by fixing nitrogen hence adding nitrates into the soil.- Source of nectar and pollen for honey production.- Trees help in soil and water conservation.- The trees provide raw materials to industries.- Trees on the farm saves on labour used by women and children in collecting firewood
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