Review on Agro-forestry System and Its Contribution in Ethiopia

Abstract

Agroforestry is an ancient practice and also the farmers are too much familiarized with it in Ethiopia. It contributes incredible benefits via socioeconomic and environment. The main idea of this paper is to review Agro-forestry system/practices and its contribution in Ethiopia. Most common types of agroforestry practices are home garden, farmland, woodlot and coffee farm; however, their distribution and perception of farmer on those various practice varied. An amazing, each agroforestry practice contributes multiple benefits because it provides various services from specific unit of land. The major advantage was diversify productions, which is the best strategy, particularly for smallholder's farmer because their livelihood depending on farming system. Agroforestry practice is highly recommended and acceptable than mono-cropping consequently it provides a socioeconomic benefits like tree products (Timber, firewood, construction materials and fruit for food) and income, whereas environmental services (reduce soil erosion, increase soil moisture and fertility, coffee shade, and keep micro climate balance). Generally, it is good tool for mitigating and adapting climate change. As result farmers were accounted it as a mainstay for maximizing their land productive capacity then improve the smallholder's livelihoods. Therefore, the government should encourage agroforestry practice for improving the livelihoods of farmer and smoothly to tolerate the variable of climate change.