Schemes for Agro-Forestry in India 2024

” Har Medh Par Ped ” Scheme

(Har Medh Par Ped) Scheme was launched in 2016-17 to encourage tree plantation on farm land along with crops/ cropping system to help the farmers get additional income and make their farming systems more climate resilient and adaptive. The scheme is being implemented in 20 States viz. Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, M.P., Maharashtra, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, U.P., Mizoram, Meghalaya, Nagaland and 2 UTs viz. J&K and Ladakh with funding pattern of 60:40 between Centre and State Govt. for all States excepting NE & Hilly states, where it is 90:10 and 100% in case of UTs & National Level Agencies. Under the scheme, assistance to farmers is given through State Govt. for nursery development, boundary plantation and block plantation of prominent tree species to promote, inter-alia, fruits bearing tree borne oilseeds, medicinal & aromatic plants, silk & lac rearing host plants, in addition to timber species, so that farmers get early returns. A total of 1,82,503 farmers have benefitted under the scheme so far. A total of 1,82,503 farmers have benefitted under the scheme so far.

Sub-Mission on Agroforestry Scheme

Sub-Mission on Agroforestry Scheme is being implemented since 2016-17 to encourage tree plantation on farm land in a complementary and integrated manner with crops and livestock, to help the farmers to get additional income and make their farming systems more climate resilient and adaptive. Presently, the scheme is being implemented in 21 States viz. Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Mizoram, Manipur, Meghalaya, Nagaland and 2 UTs viz. Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.The extant scheme is being implemented in those States/UTs that have liberalized felling and transit regulations for selected tree species. Other States/UTs can access the benefit of the scheme as and when such relaxation is notified by them. All the farmers  specially small marginal farmers are eligible for the benefit of the scheme.

Assistance to farmers for various interventions under the scheme is as following:

The Agro-forestry scheme envisages a lot of quantifiable benefits like additional income, protection from crop damage, higher carbon sequestration along with climate change adaptation and mitigation.

In 2023-24, the scheme was restructured as an Agroforestry component under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) and focusses on Quality Planting Material. Under the scheme, financial assistance is being provided to the beneficiaries for establishment of nurseries and raising of saplings. The scheme shall promote the setting up of new small, medium and hi-tech nurseries for producing Quality Planting Materials (QPM).

The key objectives of the scheme are as follows:

• To encourage and expand tree plantation in complementary and integrated manner with crops and livestock, to improve productivity, employment opportunities, income generation and livelihoods of rural households, especially the small farmers.

• To ensure availability of quality planting material like seeds, seedlings, clones, hybrids, improved varieties, etc.

• To popularise various Agroforestry practices/models suitable to different agro ecological regions and land use conditions.

• To create database, information and knowledge support in the area of agroforestry.

• To provide Research & Development (R&D), extension and capacity building support to agroforestry sector.

• To identify and catalyze linkages with traditional and emerging markets for the timber and non-timber products generated from agroforestry plantation on farmland including Bio-fuels, matchwood, plywood, silk, fiber, lac, beauty and wellness sector, handicrafts, construction, etc.

• To promote value addition and processing of agroforestry produce by creating collection and post-harvest facilities for additional income generation by farmers.

• To provide use of modern technology for monitoring and evaluation (M&E) on the impact of agroforestry in agro-ecology.

The scheme targets to provide following benefits:

1) Adaptation to impact of climate change effects through microclimate moderation, conservation of natural resources and creation of an additional source of livelihood and income opportunities.

2) Enhancement in productivity, soil fertility improvement, soil conservation, nutrient cycling, microclimate improvement etc.

3) Enhanced carbon sequestration in farmlands as well as ecosystem services.

4) Sustainable availability of Quality Planting Material for agroforestry

5) Promote the setting up of new small, medium and hi-tech nurseries for producing Quality Planting Materials (QPM) like seeds, seedlings, clones, and improved varieties to meet the requirement of farmers

National Bamboo Mission

Resultant to this historic amendment, bamboo grown in the non-forest area is out of the scope of regulations on the forest produces. During the year 2022-23, the NBM has been merged with Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) scheme.

The restructured National Bamboo Mission primarily focuses on the development of complete value chain of bamboo sector to link growers with consumers starting from planting material, plantation, creation of facilities, skilled manpower and brand processing marketing, micro, small & medium enterprises, skilled manpower and brand building initiative in a cluster approach mode. Presently the scheme is being implemented in 24 States/UTs. The NBM has provisions to raise bamboo plantations as well as to establish units for bio-energy extraction, activated carbon product, charcoal making, pellet making, Ethanol gasifier, etc for government agencies and private entrepreneurs.

NBM also envisaged to revitalise the bamboo industry through various innovations and policy support that would contribute by reducing the carbon emission and contribute to domestic manufacturing.

The key objectives of the Mission are as follows:

• To increase the area under bamboo plantation in non-forest Government and private lands to supplement farm income and contribute towards resilience to climate change as well as availability of quality raw material requirement of industries. The bamboo plantations will be promoted predominantly in farmers’ fields, homesteads, community lands, arable wastelands, and along irrigation canals, water bodies etc.

• To improve post-harvest management through establishment of innovative primary processing units near the source of production, primary treatment and seasoning plants, preservation technologies and market infrastructure.

• To promote product development keeping in view market demand, by assisting R&D, entrepreneurship & business models at micro, small and medium levels and feed bigger industry.

• To rejuvenate the underdeveloped bamboo industry in India

• To promote skill development, capacity building, awareness generation for development of bamboo sector from production to market demand. • To realign efforts to reduce dependency on import of bamboo and bamboo products by way of improved productivity and suitability of domestic raw material for industry, so as to enhance income of the primary producers

The scheme targets to provide following benefits:

1) It would assist farmers, government agencies, artisans, entrepreneurs, private agencies, Federated SHGs, FPOs, and other persons involved in bamboo industry

2) It will help in establishing bamboo nursery, bamboo cultivation, post-harvest processing, product manufacturing, capacity building, entrepreneurship, etc for the industry

3) It will help in creating self-dependency for fulfilling the demand of bamboo and bamboo products.