India needs to embrace a landscape approach to agriculture that integrates trees with crops and livestock in order to boost its rural economy.

These were the words of Dr Tony Simons, Director General of World Agroforestry Centre, at the Business for the Environment Global Summit in India.

One World South Asia reports on how agroforestry diversifies on-farm production as well as stabilizing and fertilizing soils, improving environment health. Agroforestry can increase crop yields and provide fodder, medicines, timber, non-timber products and many other benefits which can imrprove farmers’ livelihoods.

According to Simons, India’s crop productivity falls behind that of many other developed and developing countries. With limited arable land left for agriculture to expand into, more sustainable farming approaches are vital. During the summit he also raised the possibility of partnerships between smallholder farmers and the private sector as a means to improve productivity.

Read the full story: Agroforestry can boost rural economy: experts