Resources Member Training Agroforestry

Agroforestry

Postaraj Chapai

Postaraj Chapai

Mon Feb 13 2023

A multilayer farming

Agro-forestry methods.

Sustainable farming is about to keep our soil healthy for valued forest green products including fruits, rare medicinal plants and many forest related benefits for the locals, forest has a rich healthy type of soil so we don’t need to work hard, preferring no dig farming to keep existing soil happy and healthy with some little effort for better production and development of the forest by pruning, mulching and cleaning, in other hand we need to keep the environment friendly and safe for all local and migrant inhabitants and the forest is a major income sources of the locals with its products and added value into the established market, it can be a healthy and diverse source of green economy, which will contribute to the green revolution.

Himalayan tropical, subtropical and terai forests are always a source of rare herbs and superfoods, small enterprises, various local products and livelihood opportunities are connected with the forest and some additional farming may take place for larger the production by sharing each other's economic benefits through the established framework of the agroforestry.

Our forests are capable to produce a variety of valuable, spices, herbs, fruits vegetables, honey, tea, coffee, vegetables, and mushrooms in a mixed manner they are also the major source of animal husbandry, fountains, and the habitat for various creatures and life, there are always possibilities to grow more with adding the existence forest value.

Indigenous, ancient farming techniques with some modern tools for farming practices will make the process easy for healthy production. We aim to restore forest value and enhance the green economy through sustainable methods, practices and participation, in fact there are few challenges to preserve valuable creatures and plants withing the diverse ecosystem.

1. Soil selection

Sustainable agroforestry is a process to keep the soil rich and healthy, we must be sensible with it, we can measure the PH value of the soil and the water to determine what changes are required to improve for better production.

Soil building is an ongoing process in every forest land where trees fall their leaf, old branches, and bushes leave their old remains, all insects, animals, and plants are connected to each other to compost the ground so there is no need for additional fertilizer or do not require to dig the soil much, but love and care is needed where million microorganisms exist happily.

Mostly forest has a balanced moisture, sometimes it requires some additional activities like mulching, pruning and clearing the bushes for a better access of air and sunlight into the ground, it starts to help our plants to grow happier and healthier each other together in a dynamic way, sometimes we may need to irrigate to the land by holding some topsoil or water above the hillside to maximize the output of the forest soil.

2. Climate and landscape

Climate change is a big issue and everyone is affected, Himalayan snow melting is a burden for the whole ecosystem on earth, many species are in endanger, and in verge of collapse in to the high Himalayan land, it is a need of importance sensitive issue that the subtropical forest land is the most productive land for herbal medicine, fruits, and vegetables, animals and water, by its developments we can multiply the value further to our forestry ecosystem

3. Animals and birds.

We are aware not to harm any forest inhabitants, we identify such animals around and what activities they are doing in nearby areas, mostly they are searching for food and water, it is also importance to keep their grazing management and maintain the source of their happy and healthy life, our farmers, local groups or the community can plant extra fruits and berries, but sometimes we can choose to plant the opposite of what the animal don't like before they are coming to our farming land.

4. Keep the plant safe

Whatever we find in the local area is valuable as they are native for the ecosystem and to enable the water resources, we help them to maintain their growth and harvest them in a sustainable way, like Paris polyphylla (Satawa) above 1900-3500 meter, its need to leave the 1/4 of front rhizome under the soil before harvesting, which helps to double the growth and save the species.

5. Hybrid or GMO seeds

This is a gold standard for the natural forest land to keep the hybrid and GMO seeds away, genetically modified seeds and plants will affect the whole environment of the forest species, it may harm to the natural plants, animals, and overall ecosystem so we avoid such seeds and farming practices nearby forest land, instead, we can easily share the seed and knowledge from each other forest network, community forest group, local enterprises, they can also share their techniques each other together.

6. Fire control

Fire control is a major task for the forest from a disaster so it is essential to store some tools and keep them each with you plus the fire control line is a good insist you can work for that in a group, cleaning the farm itself help to keep the entire forest safe, fire control is the emergency task before and in case forest catch fire, we also can manage water storages, drainages, and bush control around the firm, in a proper manner which help to grow the forest more, some fire resistance coat and digging plus first aid kit is essential for every forest nearby community.

Live naturally healthy and happy.