Agroforestry systems and research in Eritrea (East Africa): A review

Abstract

The paper reviews the potential and significance of agroforestry systems in Eritrea with the objective of improving their adoption. The three basic Agroforestry systems are: agrisilviculture (crops + trees), silvopastoral (pasture/ animal + trees), and agrosilvopastoral (crops + pasture/animals + trees). Other agroforestry systems include apiculture (bees + trees), aquaculture (fish + trees) and multipurpose tree lots. In Eritrea, the most important agroforestry practices are multipurpose trees on crop land, wind breaks and shelter belts, trees for soil conservation, living fencing, community wood lots, river banks and water ways and rangelands (protein banks). Agroforestry has been recognized as a land use system capable of yielding both wood and food, while conserving and rehabilitating natural ecosystems. Research reviews on agroforestry in Eritrea showed that the highest grain yield on barley was obtained from fallow land planted with Crotalaria grahamiana (1,165 kg ha–1). Hedge row intercropping studies showed that a 4.5 m alley gave higher barley grain yield (793 kg ha–1) than a 6 m alley. It is necessary to create community awareness on the benefits of agroforestry and to promote different agroforestry practices to preserve indigenous woody species. Furthermore, tree legumes are very important source of protein which provides animal feeds during dry periods. However, it is important that appropriate agroforestry research programs are co-designed with farmers so that relevant technologies and approaches can be adopted in farmers’ real-world context.