Agricultural and Biological Research

The role of agroforestry in mitigating climate changes in arid regions of Rajasthan

Gayathri P.M*, Akshika Bhawariya, Anil Swami and Raveena

Climate conditions of northwest regions hinder production and life support system. The people in this region have developed an agroforestry-based drought protection system through generations of experience and ingenuity, that has been passed down from generation to generation. Agroforestry systems are environmentally and economically sound farming practices that improve overall farm productivity, enrich soil with fallen litter, and preserve environmental services like phytoremediation, biodiversity conservation, watershed protection, and carbon sequestration-all of which help to mitigate climate change. Agroforestry systems possess substantial potential for offering effective mitigation options; however, their capacity to sequester carbon depends heavily on well-managed practices. This paper describes the traditional agroforestry systems that prevail in the arid regions of Rajasthan and their role in mitigating climate change.