POTENTIAL OF AGROFORESTRY IN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN SRI LANKA

Abstract

In order to meet the increasing demand of a growing population andincreased aspirations, Sri Lanka has to increase and sustainproduction/procurement of essential items including food, energy, resourcesfor shelter, apparels etc. Agroforestry which is a method of integration oftrees and agricultural crops and/or animals can be considered an appropriateand useful method for achieving economic, environmental and socialsustainability. There is an age-old agro forestry traditions in the country andnumerous examples of its practices are to be found in all climatic zones. Inaddition to these, development of new management strategies using scientificand systematic management strategies for wider adoption have been arelatively recent approach.

This paper reviews the agroforestry interventions such as home gardens,farmers' woodlots, use of agro forestry for management of watersheds,intercropping under coconut, energy plantations under coconut and alleycropping. Physical factors and government! institutional variables areconsidered as external determinants while socio-economic factors ofindividual farm families contribute as inputs to the operation.Recommendations are also given to further develop their systems forsustainable development.