TITLE:
Estimation of Economic Value of Agroforestry Systems at the Local Scale in Eastern Sudan
AUTHORS:
Bashir Awad El Tahir, Akshay Vishwanath
KEYWORDS:
Local Perceived Values, Marketable Products, Natural Products, Gum Arabic, Non-Timber Forest Products
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection,
Vol.3 No.9,
November
27,
2015
ABSTRACT: The
objective of this paper is to institute farmers’ own perceptions of the on-and
off-farm benefits of agroforestry systems (AFS). Using use value approach, this
paper presents empirical evidence on the use values of three types of AFS
practiced by the refugees and their hosting communities in Eastern Sudan. The
total economic value (TEV) was applied as a framework to estimate the ecosystem
values of AFS under study. Goods values were estimated using specific market
values, while the services values were qualitatively described according to
local perceived values of the local communities. Perceived TEV of AFS includes
marketable and non-marketable goods and services. The main direct marketable
and sustainable high value products include: food, cash crops, firewood, gum,
fodder, NTFPs medicine, fodder, and honey. The valuation results reveal that
AFS in the project sites have significantly contributed to the livelihoods of
the local communities. Overall, the average net direct-use value of marketable
products across all sites was estimated at 7,346,000.0 SDG (1,335,636.36 US$) HH/annum.
Gum Arabic alone accounted for 38%, followed by sorghum grain and fodder 35%,
and cash crops (sesame) 18%. This value would be many time higher if other
indirect values (non-marketable) services such as shade, aesthetic and
recreation, environmental protection, biodiversity and carbon sequestration are
quantified. The goods and services mentioned above provide sustainable income
to the farmer directly and viable benefits to the region indirectly. Hence, AFS
in the study sites shows the way to reconcile two conflicting goals: short-term
food and livelihood needs with long-term environmental conservation and
improvement. The study provides evidence that the high local perceived values
of AFS in the study sites constitute a central means of livelihood, whereas its
contribution to the local economy. The study stresses the need to quantify the
monetary values of non-marketed products to consistently account for resource
availability and usage to further sound policy decisions. Tenure security,
farmer support services and human capital development were major areas
identified for policy development.