Agroforestry improves food security and reduces income variability in semi-arid tropics of central India

This study, using cross sectional data from 170 farmers, empirically established that agroforestry positively affects food security and significantly reduces income variability among farmers in Bundelkhand region lying in semi-arid tropics of central India. A 1% increase in the tree density and tree diversity on farm significantly increases food security status by 0.231% and 0.141% points, respectively. Further variability in income reduces by around 0.38% and 0.16% with unit percentage increase in tree density and diversity, respectively. Therefore, amid the epoch of global climate change, agroforestry practice can be a crucial climate smart agriculture option. Farmers’ challenges were also identified and ranked by using Problem Confrontation Index (PCI). The study unveils that, efforts towards controlling stray animals, creating marketing environment, strengthening and streamlining the extension services for more technological and input support requires a strategic institutional framework as a key to upgrade agroforestry in the region.