Village agroforestry systems and tree - use practices : a case study in Sri Lanka

This paper examines farmers" land-use systems and their perceptions of the role of trees in the villages of Bambarabedda and Madugalla in central Sri Lanka. The benefits of village agroforestry are diverse -- food, fuelwood, fodder, timber, and mulch -- but food products are of outstanding importance. The ability of Artocarpus heterophyllus (the jackfruit tree) and Cocos nucifera (coconut) to ensure food security during the dry season and provide traditional foods throughout the year, as well as to grow in limited space, make them popular crops in the two study villages. State forests, home gardens, and farm croplands are all sources of tree products according to their availability and household parameters. An understanding of farmers" tree- breeding objectives was gathered through participatory sketching of tree ideotypes. Farmers" needs regarding tree improvement included efficient space use as well as improved quality and quantity of tree products. The study recommends that further research precede the formulation of agricultural interventions and that efforts to promote improved tree varieties recognize farmers" practices and expressed needs. On this basis, Artocarpus heterophyllus, Tamarindus indica (the tamarind), Psidium guajava (guava), and Madhuca longifolia emerge as priority species for improvement efforts.