This blog is about how research into agroforestry – the growing of trees on farms – can improve the livelihoods of smallholder farmers in the developing world and benefit the environment.
Agroforestry provides multiple benefits to smallholder farmers, including diversified income and resilience to risk.
– Fertilizer trees improve the health of soils and boost crop yields.
– Fruit trees provide alternative sources of nutrition.
– Fodder trees improve smallholder livestock production.
– Timber and fuelwood trees provide shelter and energy.
– Medicinal trees combat disease.
– Trees can produce gums, resins or latex products.
Growing trees on farms help reduce erosion, provide land cover and shade, improve water infiltration, store carbon and increase biodiversity.
The World Agroforestry Centre is an independent non-profit research organization that focuses on how incorporating trees into agricultural landscapes can reduce poverty, improve productivity and achieve environmental sustainability.
Our research is organized around six global research priorities:
- Quality trees
- On-farm productivity
- Marketing and extension
- Land health
- Climate change
- Environmental services
The World Agroforestry Centre, also known as ICRAF has its global headqu