Homegarden Agroforestry for Socio-Economic, Ecological and Environmental Sustainability in
Sri Lanka
DKNG Pushpakumara, B. Marambe, J. Weerahewa, G.L.L.P. Silva, K.T. Premakantha and B.V.R. Punyawardena
Faculty of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka,Forest Department, Battaramulla, Sri Lanka
Department of Agriculture, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
Source: Pushpakumara et al. (2012)
Area of Homegardens in Sri Lanka in Relation to Forests, Agriculture and Other
Landuses
Sri Lanka
Population pressure
Forest - protected
Land is limiting factor
Land degradation
Watershed issues
Food and nutritional security
Poor farmers – food & nutrition problem
13%6%
10%
41%21%
9%
Homegardens
Rubber plantations
Coconut plantations
Forest plantations
Imported
Unrecorded
Sources of sawlogs supply in Sri Lanka
Source: FSMP, 1995;
Pushpakumara et al. 2012
7%
27%4%19%
3%
14%7% 19%
Rubber w ood
Homegarden
Forest plantation
Coconut
Processing residues
Other
Natural forest
Crop land
Sources of fuelwood supply in Sri Lanka
Sawlog and Fuelwood Production
Household incomeBiodiversity conservation
Weerahewa et al. 2012; 2013
Diversity of the Plant Species (Numbers)
2300Endemic species
20201632Families
34262451Genera
36 (23%)
28 (18%)
25 (16%)
65 (42%)
Species
No specific use identified
Medicinal Timber Food
Marambe et al., 2012; Weerahewa et al. 2012; 2013
Species Number of trees recorded from homegardens
Coconut 38,616,649 ??
Jakfruit 10,437,142
Mahogany 6,410,248
Mango 5,607,688
Teak 3,293,609
Rambutan 1,177,920
Avacardo 986,161
Woodapple 948,752
Del 910,473
Delum 197,941
Ebony 174 005
Beli 165,718
Palmyrah 127,340
Nelli 116,728
Mango 52,103Source: Ariyadasa (2002)
Tree Domestication
Major source of fruit production
and fruit tree genetic diversity
Circa situm conservation
Food and nutritional security
Sustainable Management of Landscapeand Provision of Environmental Services
DistrictArea
(sq km)
Population density
(per sq km)
Forest cover
(%)
Homegarden cover (%)*
Tree canopy cover
(%)Ampara 4,318 143 37.5 4.1 41.6Colombo 656 3,631 2.8 13.1 15.9Gampaha 1,386 1,523 0.3 25.2 25.5Hambantota 2,579 210 20.5 15.1 35.6Kandy 1,906 704 17.0 30.4 47.4Kegalle 1,693 468 9.5 23.2 32.7Nuwara Eliya 1,720 423 24.5 5.3 29.8Rathnapura 3,255 325 20.0 15.8 35.8Vavunia 1,967 74 51.0 10.1 61.1Sri Lanka 65,610 314 23.5 14.3 40.8
Statistics on land area, population density, forest cover and homegarden area of selected districts of Sri Lanka.
Pushpakumara et al., 2012
Carbon Content in Different TROF systems of Nuwara Eliya District
TROF systemExtent Weight at 20%
M.C.Carbon content
(kg)
Homegarden27,440 1,655,528,757 711,875,713.2
Tea based TROF system
79,182 989,007,345 441,097,275.7
Urban agricultural based TROF system
3,885 77,924,882 34,754,497.42
Grassland4,289 41,101,104 18,331,092.44
Annual crop based TROF system
13,154 4,383,012 1,954,823.516
Total127950 2,767,945,100 1,208,013,402
Homegardens are climate resilient
Now….
Priority in national development programs (Divi Neguma – Livelihood improvement programs).
Largely based on annual vegetables and few perennials….
Not fully identified….
Fragmentation issue…..
Domestication of high value trees……
Perceptions and convictions……
Innovative management strategies…..
Dynamism of tree component……
Multi-disciplinary system approach…
Policy brief….
Thank you for your attention..........
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