Smallholder farmers in Tigray have been growing Rhamnus prinoides trees/shrubs with annual crops in rain-fed farmlands. Although this agroforestry system is widely practiced, there are no sufficient scientific reports on its profitability and financial returns. The objective of this research was to analyze the financial profitability and relative financial advantages of R. prinoid-based agroforestry compared to monocropping practices, in eastern Tigray. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire from 123 randomly selected households who practiced R. prinoides-based agroforestry. To address the objective, we estimated the net present values (NPV), Annuity values, and benefit to cost ratio (BCR) on per hectare basis. The annuity and BCR of agroforestry were compared with those of adjacent monoculture farms of the associated crop components in agroforestry. The land equivalent ratios (LER) of the agroforestry were calculated and compared with sole crops. The NPV and BCR of the agroforestry were 5.6 and nearly fourfold higher than that of the monocropping, respectively. Similarly, the R. prinoides-based agroforestry LER was 0.33–1.36% higher as compared to monocultures. Stocking density and age of agroforestry affected the financial return from R. prinoides-based agroforestry. We concluded that R. prinoides-based agroforestry has superior financial performance over monocrops and is financially less risky. Therefore, the adoption of R. prinoides-based agroforestry practices is a viable option for smallholder farmers to maximize net returns from their rain-fed farmlands and resource inputs.

提格雷的小农一直在雨水浇灌的农田中种植鼠李树/灌木和一年生作物。尽管这种农林业系统得到了广泛应用，但对其盈利能力和财务回报还没有足够的科学报告。本研究的目的是分析提格雷东部基于R. prinoid的农林业与单一作物种植做法相比的财务盈利能力和相对财务优势。使用结构化问卷从 123 个随机选择的从事以R. prinoides为基础的农林业的家庭中收集数据。为了实现这一目标，我们估算了每公顷的净现值 (NPV)、年金值和效益成本比 (BCR)。将农林业的年金和 BCR 与农林业相关作物成分的邻近单一种植农场进行了比较。计算了农林业的土地当量比（LER）并与单一作物进行了比较。农林业的 NPV 和 BCR 分别比单作高 5.6 倍和近 4 倍。同样，以R. prinoides为基础的农林业 LER 比单一栽培高 0.33-1.36%。混农林业的放养密度和树龄影响着以刺槐为基础的农林业的经济回报。我们得出的结论是，以R. prinoides为基础的农林业比单一作物具有更优越的财务绩效，并且财务风险更小。因此，采用以R. prinoides为基础的农林业做法是小农从雨养农田和资源投入中实现净回报最大化的可行选择。