Economics of agroforestry

Abstract

Although from the start ICRAF recognized the importance of the socio-economic dimensions of agroforestry land-use systems, it was only five years after its official commencement that an economist was added to the staff.

During the last five years no attempt has been made to create a separate Economics Department with its own programme. Rather, the emphasis has been on supporting on-going ICRAF activities by trying to make “economics’ an integral part of eachof these activities.

Nevertheless, in summarizing these efforts, five major areas of work can be identified:

• (i) Economic concepts;

• (ii) Methods and tools for economic assessment;

• (iii) Economic information gathering;

• (iv) Economic analysis proper;

• (v) Training and dissemination.

The achievements in each of these areas, as well as some ideas on possible trends, will be summarized in this paper.