Structural and functional assessment of traditional Betel Vine- based agroforestry practices in Maharashtra, India

Abstract

Betel vine agroforestry is a traditional indigenous system providing livelihood opportunities for the farmers of Maharashtra, yet lacks documentation. This investigation was carried out among farmers in villages engaged in betel vine cultivation through a qualitative survey during 2021–2022 via group discussions and field visits. Tree diversity in Betel-vine agroforestry systems was assessed using different diversity indices and economics were also calculated. The sociodemographic results revealed that 33.8% of the farmers were earning income between Rs. 1,00,000 and 1,50,000. The average size of betel vine-based agroforestry systems varied between 0.11 and 0.23 ha. Approximately 80% of farms were rectangularly shaped and three types of structural planting patterns were noticed viz., zigzag (Vafa), strip and square planting patterns. The surveyed betel vine agroforestry areas featured 12 plant species, comprising 7 tree species, 4 shrubs species, and 1 climber species (Piper betle). Farmers used a mix of support trees, like Erythrina, Sesbania and Moringa. The highest Shannon Diversity Index was documented in Satara (1.4) while Aurangabad had the highest basal area (3.6 m² ha⁻¹). The annual gross returns ranged from Rs. 9,610,105 ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ (Satara) to Rs. 3,744,100 ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ (Jalgaon). The highest BCR was found in Satara (1.83), with 11-year rotation cycle. Overall, the average employment generation from betel vine-based agroforestry was 833.8 work-days ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹. Price support initiatives and creating market from farmer to consumer will help to sustain this indigenous agroforestry system.

Graphical abstract