Traditional Agroforestry Systems of Northeast India
109
Bamboo-based silvicultural system This system is also prevalently adopted by the
Apatanis. Bamboo is a commercially valuable non-timber species or popularly called
as the “poor man’s timber” and is common in the homesteads of the Apatanis. For
housing they maintain bamboo farms (‘Bije’) and individual forests (‘Sansung’),
in totalling to their clan forests. The Apatani farmers grow a sole species of their
traditional bamboo locally called ‘Apatani bamboo’ (Phyllostachys bambusoides) in
the agroforestry and also in the periphery of the field, which is a native of China and
has been introduced in India (Tewari 1992). Despite its socio-economic importance
and fast growing nature, information is lacking about its site characteristics, which
otherwise can be very useful in introducing this bamboo to similar sites in other parts
of the region or elsewhere (Upadhyaya et al. 2008). In the clan forests, the people
mainly grow fruit species like apple, grapes, pears, peach, etc. Pinus wallichiana
is also a component of agroforestry system in the Apatani plateau. These pines are
mainly cultivated as timber species for house construction. The Apatanis are more
aware of the importance of medicinal plants and they call a meeting from time to
time at local level to raise and preserve medicinal plants for future generation. The
medicinal plants like Taxus baccata, Illicium griffthi, Geranium sp., Cymbopogan
winterianus etc. are found in their homegardens. The Apatanis contrasting to their
neighbours (the Nyishis) are confining to a narrow territory. The shortage of land
has led to the growth of a commendable, efficient and well-managed land use system
and water resource management worthy of replication in other areas.
Horti-silvi-pastoral systems This system is practiced by the Nyishis in Arunachal
Pradesh. Timber species such as Terminalia myriocarpa, Gmelina arborea, Mesua
ferrea are grown in combination with the non-timber yielding species like bamboo. Livistonia jenkinsiana (locally called ‘Toko’) cultivation is the unique feature
of this tribe. This species is having a greater potential in agroforestry due to its
shorter gestation period and recurring economic returns, and the Toko leaves are
used as roofing material. The fruit trees like Mangifera indica, Psidium guajava,
Artocarpus heterophyllus, etc. are common in this system. Crop-animal systems, in
which livestock play a multi-purpose role yielded various products and performed
different functions, such as recycling of nutrients and energy and helped to achieve
self-sufficiency, stability and sustainability of the system, are common among the
Nyishis. Most farm families rear cows, bullocks, mithun, chicken and ducks in their
homesteads. Some families also rear pigs. The cow forms an important part of the
household, not only to provide milk, but also generates organic manure. Increased
productivity from livestock will be necessary in these systems to meet the increased
demand for animal products, to alleviate poverty and to improve the livelihoods
of resource-poor farmers (Devendra and Thomas 2002). ‘Mithun’ (Bos frotalis) is
common among Nyishis, which are used for every social and traditional occasion.
The biodegradable wastes from houses and the crops are also used as animal feed.
The horti-silvi-pastoral land use brings stability in total biomass production through
fruit, fodder and fuel wood. During initial period, pasture would contribute most of
the income and later the fruit trees. The cost incurred during the preliminary stages
would be substantially higher due to warranted performances of all operations like
109
Bamboo-based silvicultural system This system is also prevalently adopted by the
Apatanis. Bamboo is a commercially valuable non-timber species or popularly called
as the “poor man’s timber” and is common in the homesteads of the Apatanis. For
housing they maintain bamboo farms (‘Bije’) and individual forests (‘Sansung’),
in totalling to their clan forests. The Apatani farmers grow a sole species of their
traditional bamboo locally called ‘Apatani bamboo’ (Phyllostachys bambusoides) in
the agroforestry and also in the periphery of the field, which is a native of China and
has been introduced in India (Tewari 1992). Despite its socio-economic importance
and fast growing nature, information is lacking about its site characteristics, which
otherwise can be very useful in introducing this bamboo to similar sites in other parts
of the region or elsewhere (Upadhyaya et al. 2008). In the clan forests, the people
mainly grow fruit species like apple, grapes, pears, peach, etc. Pinus wallichiana
is also a component of agroforestry system in the Apatani plateau. These pines are
mainly cultivated as timber species for house construction. The Apatanis are more
aware of the importance of medicinal plants and they call a meeting from time to
time at local level to raise and preserve medicinal plants for future generation. The
medicinal plants like Taxus baccata, Illicium griffthi, Geranium sp., Cymbopogan
winterianus etc. are found in their homegardens. The Apatanis contrasting to their
neighbours (the Nyishis) are confining to a narrow territory. The shortage of land
has led to the growth of a commendable, efficient and well-managed land use system
and water resource management worthy of replication in other areas.
Horti-silvi-pastoral systems This system is practiced by the Nyishis in Arunachal
Pradesh. Timber species such as Terminalia myriocarpa, Gmelina arborea, Mesua
ferrea are grown in combination with the non-timber yielding species like bamboo. Livistonia jenkinsiana (locally called ‘Toko’) cultivation is the unique feature
of this tribe. This species is having a greater potential in agroforestry due to its
shorter gestation period and recurring economic returns, and the Toko leaves are
used as roofing material. The fruit trees like Mangifera indica, Psidium guajava,
Artocarpus heterophyllus, etc. are common in this system. Crop-animal systems, in
which livestock play a multi-purpose role yielded various products and performed
different functions, such as recycling of nutrients and energy and helped to achieve
self-sufficiency, stability and sustainability of the system, are common among the
Nyishis. Most farm families rear cows, bullocks, mithun, chicken and ducks in their
homesteads. Some families also rear pigs. The cow forms an important part of the
household, not only to provide milk, but also generates organic manure. Increased
productivity from livestock will be necessary in these systems to meet the increased
demand for animal products, to alleviate poverty and to improve the livelihoods
of resource-poor farmers (Devendra and Thomas 2002). ‘Mithun’ (Bos frotalis) is
common among Nyishis, which are used for every social and traditional occasion.
The biodegradable wastes from houses and the crops are also used as animal feed.
The horti-silvi-pastoral land use brings stability in total biomass production through
fruit, fodder and fuel wood. During initial period, pasture would contribute most of
the income and later the fruit trees. The cost incurred during the preliminary stages
would be substantially higher due to warranted performances of all operations like