Tropentag, September 16 - 18, 2026, Göttingen "Towards multi-functional agro-ecosystems promoting climate-resilient futures"

Indigenous agroforestry innovations for smallholder resilience in South Punjab, Pakistan: Evidence from Moringa oleifera systems

¹MNS-University of Agriculture, Fac. of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Pakistan
²MNS-University of Agriculture, Fac. of Social Sciences and Humanities, Pakistan
³Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development, Forest - Wood - Environment, Germany
⁴MNS-University of Agriculture, Dept. of Agriculture and Resource Economics, Pakistan

Abstract

Smallholder farming systems in Pakistan are increasingly constrained by climate variability, land fragmentation, and declining soil quality. In South Punjab, where nearly 60% of farmers cultivate less than two hectares, these pressures undermine productivity and livelihood security. Despite growing interest in agroforestry as a climate-resilient pathway towards multi-functional agro-ecosystems, indigenous and farmer-led innovations remain under-documented and insufficiently integrated into formal research and policy frameworks. This study employs a mixed-methods design combining qualitative and quantitative approaches in the Jalalpur-Pirwala tehsil of Multan district. Primary data were collected through semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions with agroforestry-practicing farmers, complemented by a structured household survey. Qualitative data were analysed using thematic coding to identify patterns in indigenous knowledge and management practices, while descriptive statistical analysis was applied to survey data to characterise farm-level integration and resource use. The analysis adopts a case study approach, focusing on Moringa oleifera-based systems as a representative indigenous agroforestry innovation. Findings indicate that Moringa oleifera is strategically integrated into smallholder systems due to its low input requirements, rapid biomass accumulation, and multifunctional uses. Farmers utilise it for household nutrition, livestock fodder, and supplementary income generation, while also recognising its role in buffering climatic risks. Thematic analysis reveals locally adapted management strategies that optimise tree–crop interactions under resource constraints, enhancing system-level resilience. The results underscore the importance of recognising and systematically incorporating indigenous agroforestry practices into agricultural development strategies. Supporting the scaling of such low-cost, context-specific innovations can strengthen climate resilience and livelihood diversification in smallholder systems. Policy interventions should therefore prioritise participatory extension models and evidence-based integration of farmer-led practices into national agroforestry and climate adaptation frameworks.

Keywords: Agroforestry, climate adaptation, indigenous innovations, mixed methods, smallholders

Contact Address: Zahid Ullah, MNS-University of Agriculture, Fac. of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mnsuam, Multan, Pakistan, e-mail: zahid.wazirlive.com