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Amid the epoch of global overpopulation, the agroforestry system can intervene as a novel practice that can safeguard agricultural sustainability, provide a means of livelihood, yield ecological benefits, and contribute to household food security. However, the adoption of sustained agroforestry practices requires an understanding of both farmers' personal characteristics and perceived statuses, constituting a difficult task to anticipate, analyze, and visualize. To this end, it is crucial to understand and identify the most significant factors driving the adoption of agroforestry. This research attempts to examine the determinants and psychological drivers of smallholder farmers' intention to plant trees on farmland and the factors that may discourage them from doing so. The conceptual framework of the study was developed based on the theory of planned behavior. We draw on survey data from 400 smallholder farmers in a northern irrigated plain of Pakistan. A binary logistic regression model was employed to explore how socio-psychological drivers influence farmers' decision to adopt agroforestry practices. The study results reveal that 60.5% of the respondents prefer to adopt agroforestry practices. The results from a logit estimation showed that socio-economic variables such as family size, land ownership, subsidies, livestock rearing, sources of energy, and total income had a significant positive influence on the planting of trees on farmland, while age had a negative influence. Moreover, runoff control and the control of heat significantly affect the perceptions of farmers regarding the adoption of agroforestry. The findings suggest that implementing policies that enhance the delivery of robust agricultural extension services and training programs for farmers could disseminate the agroforestry system countrywide, which might offer substantial benefits for farmers in the long term while maintaining environmental integrity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agroforestry (AF), a traditional land management system in Pakistan that provides great potential both to boost agriculture and reduce wood shortages. Previous work has identified many complex factors of AF covering socio-economic, and environmental impacts. Comparatively few have addressed the perception of the impact of AF. This study investigates the farmer perception of ecological impact derived from AF and the factors that influence their perception. The questionnaire was completed by 200 farmers in Northern irrigated plain in Pakistan, and the resulting descriptive statistics and a probit regression analysis were used to analyze the data. The results show that majority of farmers were believed AF increases the greenery, understory regeneration, water retention, and soil fertility of the farmland. In addition, the analysis shows that farmers' perceptions of AF were positively correlated with the native trees selected for cultivation. However, farmers who practice agrosilvopastoral system had less knowledge and perception of the ecological benefits of AF. Moreover, the study found, even though farmers plant exotic species they perceived that it had a negative impact on the water level and soil fertility. On the other hand, lack of technical knowledge also affected their perceived status. Therefore, designing and implementing informal education programs that collaborate with AF farmers and officials is suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]