Agroforestry for sustainable livelihoods, environmental resilience and climate change adaptation

General

Steep slopes of the upland areas of Montane Mainland Southeast Asia are rapidly exploited for agriculture leading to challenges of surface runoff, erosion and soil degradation in turn leading to low yields and profitability of agriculture. Agroforestry (AF) with contour farming techniques is suggested as a solution to reduce soil erosion and land degradation, while improving farm productivity, food and nutrition security and aid in climate change adaptation. This project will assess options for profitable, sustainable, diversified farming systems on sloping land through integration of fruit trees, annual crops and perennial fodder crops. Specific objectives are to evaluate AF-contour farming systems´ potential (1) to buffer extreme weather events and contribute to climate change adaptation and resilience, (2) for soil conservation, system productivity and profitability, and identify success factors, (3) redesign mature AF systems to optimise productivity and profitability, and (4) to sustainably enhance smallholder livelihoods and factors affecting adoption. The proposed project will utilize existing on-farm field trials and demonstrations, and base-line data from an on-going project (Agroforestry for Livelihoods of Smallholder Farmers in Northwest Vietnam 2012-2021) and thus be able to carry out complementary and more in-depth research on mature AF systems. It will also include participatory data collection and AF system evaluation with farmers and extension officers.