1. Introduction Result Recommendations Conclusions
Agroforestry Practices and their Contribution to Food Security in Amhara National Regional State
By:
Demelash A. Ayana, Sewale W. Yewogu, Sintayehu E. Gebremedhin, and Wondossen G/Tsadik
Introduction
 Ethiopia’s Economy is agriculture dependent
It is also characterized by low input and intensive agriculture
There is depletion of natural resources
This resulted in reduction of agricultural productivity and ecological imbalance
Therefore, restoring agricultural land productivity and diversifying products is an urgent issue
Agro-forestry Practices (AFPs):
Provide basic day-to- day needs of farmers
Relieve pressure on natural forest
Contribute to food security
Different traditional AFPs exist in the country
Conclusions
AFPs provide goods and services and contribute to food security of the community in the study districts
AFPs has great contribution in reducing women and youth workload, however,
AFPs in the study districts are not providing the necessary uses and services to the required level
The species used for most of the AFPs are not properly selected
The frequency of cash flow for the majority of AFPs is only on annual basis
There is minimal management on AFPs
Tree species diversity is low in AFPs
Result
S/N
Questions/themes
% of respondents involved in or gave yes answer (n=201) 1
Respondents engaged in some form of AFPs 96 2
AFPs Improved local condition/environment 95 3
AFPs contributed to food security of the household 71 4
Respondents supporting livelihood by AFPs 30 5
Respondents who do not plant any fruit trees 53 6
Households getting cash income from AFPs 80 7
Respondents who apply management practice on AF 94 8
AFPs affects crops production positively 64 9
AFPs affects pasture production positively 56 10
AFPs contributes for soil and water conservation 50 11
AFPs increases soil fertility 61 12
AFPs have positive effect on the environment 90 13
AFPs contribute to food security 14
AFPs generate cash income 15
AFPs reduce complete crop failure 16
AFPs reduce time required for collecting fodder and fuel wood 85 17
AFPs take long time to give services and products 58 18
Households engaged in producing seedling 39 19
Seedling producing farmers getting technical support 74
Recommendations
Diversify the species composition of AFPs
Incorporate short gestation period fruit trees/shrubs and vegetables in AFPs
Create awareness to the local community about the role of AFPs
Screen tree/shrub species for each AFPs and Agro-ecologies
A need for conducting research to optimize the benefits of these AFPs.
Objective
To study the contribution of AFPs for food security in selected districts of Amhara National Regional Sate
Method
The study was conducted in Ebnat, Farta, Guagusa, Gozamen, Jabitehnan and Burie districts of Amhara National Regional State (ANRS). After conducting reconnaissance survey, a total of 201 respondents were randomly selected from the study districts.
Data were collected through Focus Group Discussion, Questionnaire, key informant interview and direct observation.
Data were analyzed using SPSS version 22 and both descriptive and inferential statistics were used to interpret the data.
Fig: Major problems in AFPs
References
Alemayehu Wassie, Sterck, F. J., and Bongers, F Species and structural diversity of church forests in a fragmented Ethiopian Highland landscape. Journal of Vegetation Science 21: 938–948.
Badege Bishaw and Abdu Abdelkadir Agroforestry and Community Forestry for Rehabilitation of Degraded Watersheds in the Ethiopian Highlands. In The Second EAF International Symposium on contemporary development issues in Ethiopia: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Fentahun Mengistu Fruit tree species in the wild and in homegarden agroforestry: species composition, diversity and utilization in western Amhara region, Ethiopia. PhD dissertation. Boku University, Veina, Austria.
Reid R., and Peter S., Integrating Forestry into Farms. The overstory 98, Agroforestry ejournal. Web site:
For further information
Demelash A. Ayana
 Ethiopian Environment and Forest Research Institute, Bahir Dar Environment and Forest Research Center, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia, P.o.Box 2128, Tele ,