AGROFORESTRY RESEARCH IN INDIA - A BRIEF REVIEW

India's long tradition of agroforestry has been influenced by numerous religious, social, and economic factors. Several indigenous agrofores try systems, based on peoples' needs and site-specific characteristics , have developed over the years. Agroforestry research was initiated i n the country about two decades ago; since then, considerable progress has been achieved. The interactions between and among the tree, crop, grass, and animal components have been studied, and several agrofores try technologies have been developed and tried on farmers' lands. Agro forestry research is now conducted under the auspices of the All India Coordinated Agroforestry Research Project of the Indian Council of Ag ricultural Research at 31 centers distributed over India's tropical an d temperate regions. In addition to research, the program includes agr oforestry training of farmers, technicians, and scientists at 28 cente rs throughout the country. Expectations from agroforestry are high in India in both rural and urban areas; these expectations include produc tion benefits that are in harmony with the ecology, environment, tradi tions, and heritage of the country.