The Wimco model of agroforestry involving govt.
supported loans for the purchase of tree crops could
be applied to many countries. It has resulted in large
areas of land under agroforestry with a concomitant
increase in farm incomes and employment from other
poplar-using industry. The scheme shows promise
for many other tree crop systems in India where the
trees have an industrial as well as local market. In
Central India bamboo agroforestry may be one suitable candidate.
There is considerable potential for developing the
Wimco poplar agroforestry model towards the needs
of poorer farmers by changing the attributes of the
trees and their spatial arrangement to favor the extent
and yield of the understorey crop and to develop
markets for smaller diameter timber. These recommendations are listed below.
Selection and breeding programs could extend the
southern limit of poplar production and increase tree
productivity relative to leaf area duration.
Establishment methods using l-m cuttings from
trees pruned in adjacent farms could reduce costs
compared to the use of entire transplants.
Increased spacing between rows with compensating decreases in within rows could improve the
performance of an understorey as could the selection
of more shade-tolerant species and varieties.
The use of bund or boundary planting should be
studied and the effect of aspect investigated. This
method is particularly relevant to farmers with small
fields.
Small-scale local industry using small diameter
logs and or prunings could be encouraged and developed in strategic areas by appropriate research and
government assistance.