Agroforestry: A panacea to energy production and food security in Nigeria
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Agroforestry is an ancient practice with numerous benefits ranging from climate change to Energy supply, Shelter and structures, Plant resources, Biodiversity and Improving rural livelihood. In Nigeria the adoption of agroforestry systems varies across the different ecological zones; the practices in rainforest and derived savanna zones include homestead garden, taungya and alley farming, while scattered farm trees, shelterbelt and silvopastural are practiced in the savanna zones. Like every other developing country, Nigeria is faced with a major problem in the energy sector and it also faces the herculean task in feeding its ever-increasing population. However, these could be alleviated by annexing products and services available through Agroforestry value chain. Nigeria is greatly endowed with abundant biomass resources which serves as raw material for the production of green energy capable of meeting her energy needs. Wood fuel consist of four main commodities namely fuelwood (firewood), charcoal, black liquor (bio oil) and wood waste in the form of sawdust. Briquette fuel is also an alternative source of energy produced from forestry and agricultural materials such as sawdust, sugarcane, wastes and some dead woods. The multifunctional approach of Agroforestry system increases food production by increasing resilience of crops for improved food security through the combined production of trees and agricultural crops on the same piece of land for economic development. Available data has shown that there is a considerable increase in the quality and quantity of food crops and other agricultural produce using Agroforestry techniques such as Pastoral farming in the North, Home-garden in the East and Taungya farming system in the Western part of Nigeria. Considering the economic potential of agroforestry in food security and as renewable source of energy, various forms of agroforestry should be adopted based on its relevance to different ecological zones of Nigeria.
Keywords: Agroforestry, Homestead, Biofuel, Briquette and Food Security
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