Eucalyptus planting as a response to farm management problems faced by ‘on-site’ and ‘off-site’ farmers

Abstract

The success of the ‘green revolution’ in the fertile and agriculturally surplus plains of western U.P. in north India led to labour shortages, and increased opportunities for off-farm investments by landowners, requiring their time and energies away from farming. These changes impelled landowners to adopt strategies which saved family labour and supervision time in cultivation. Many ‘off-site’ farmers, and such ‘on-site’ farmers who had a high ratio of owned land to male members in the family, resorted to tree farming, mainly eucalyptus. On the other hand, farmers in eastern U.P., with small holdings, subsistence orientation and cheap labour, showed little enthusiasm for planting eucalyptus. Based on field investigation in six villages, this paper argues that woodlot planting of eucalyptus emerged as an attractive option for landowners facing management and labour problems in western U.P., as tree farming allowed saving in family labour time and permitted greater flexibility in the timing of operations. About 60% of the total trees planted were by this category of management-constrained farmers.