Description of an agroforestry system

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the definition of agroforestry and the functions of agroforestry system that could be modified to strengthen agrarian communities. The methodology of this study consisted of literature review and data analysis by content analysis technique. The results indicated that the definition of agroforestry could be shown in easy formula: Agriculture + Forestry = Agroforestry or building forests through agriculture. By cultivating crops in a condition similar to nature, it is possible to bring diversity back to fields and achieve sustainable production of crops that were previously mono-cultural. This study found three functions of Agroforestry System: 1) economic functions, composed of the four sub-functions of various, even and resilient incomes, production efficiency, expenditure reduction and economic immunity; 2) environmental functions, composed of the seven sub-functions of land conservation, sedimentary reduction, flood and droughty relief, storm resistant, micro-climate amelioration, carbon sequestration and biodiversity; 3) social security functions, composed of the five sub-functions of product charity, good health, knowledge sources, traditional descent, and social grouping and networking. The functions of agroforestry system might help strengthen the agrarian communities in many aspects of sufficient economy, capacity building, self-esteem, quality of life, social harmony, and ecological improvement. However, levels of the strength of the communities depended on some accelerators. In the future, agroforestry system extension can be one of the measures to support or be integrated into the routine socio-economic and environmental programs and projects of central and local governments in all types of agrarian communities.