NITI Aayog Launches GROW Initiative to Transform India’s Wastelands Through Agroforestry

Context: 

This article is based on the news “NITI Aayog Launches Greening India’s Wastelands with Agroforestry (GROW) Report and Portal” which was published in the PIB. Recently, NITI Aayog launched the Greening and Restoration of Wasteland with Agroforestry (GROW) report and portal. 

GROW Initiative: Greening and Restoration of Wasteland With Agroforestry 

• Alignment with National Commitments: The GROW initiative aims to restore 26 million hectares of degraded land by 2030.
  • Goal to establish an additional carbon sink capable of sequestering 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent.
• GROW Report: The report highlights the potential benefits of converting underutilized areas, particularly wastelands, for agroforestry.
• Technology Involved: Utilized remote sensing and Geographic information system (GIS) for assessing agroforestry suitability nationwide. Promotes the use of space technology in agriculture.
• Development of Agroforestry Suitability Index (ASI): Based on thematic datasets for prioritization at the national level.
• State-wise and District-wise Analysis: Detailed analysis provided in the report to support government departments and industries in greening and restoration projects.
• Bhuvan Portal: The GROW Initiative suitability mapping portal Bhuvan allows universal access to state and district-level data.

About Agroforestry

• Definition: Agroforestry involves integrating trees with crops and/or animals on the same unit of land.
  • Facilitates nutrient cycling and energy flow, enhancing ecological efficiency.
• Current Status of Agroforestry in India: Agroforestry covers 8.65% of India’s total geographical area, approximately 28.42 million hectares.
• Government Prioritization in Union Budget: The Union Budget of the Government of India for FY-2022-23 emphasizes the promotion of agroforestry and private forestry.
• National Agroforestry Policy and Objectives: India introduced the National Agroforestry Policy in 2014.
  • Aim to enhance productivity, profitability, and sustainability through agro-ecological land use systems.
• Diverse Agroforestry Systems in India: Major systems observed include agri-horticulture, silvipasture, and agri-silviculture.
  • Various forms practiced in India include taungya systems, agrisilviculture, and aquaforestry.

Limitations of Agroforestry

• Initial Establishment Costs: Upfront investment required for establishing tree crops or livestock integration includes expenses for seedlings, fencing, irrigation systems, and labor, which may be prohibitive for resource-constrained farmers or communities.
• Longer Gestation Period: Typically have a longer gestation period compared to annual crops. Trees take time to mature and produce yields, delaying returns on investment and requiring patience from farmers. 
• Environment Aspects of Agroforestry: Possible competition of trees with food crops for space, sunlight, moisture and nutrients which may reduce food crop yield.
  • Damage to food crop during tree harvest operation.
  • Potential of trees to serve as hosts to insect pests that are harmful to food crops.
  • Rapid regeneration by prolific trees, which may displace food crops and take over entire fields.

• Socioeconomic Aspects: Requirement for more labour inputs, which may causes scarcity at times in other farm activities;
  • Agroforestry is more complex, less well understood and more difficult to apply, compared to single-crop farms.
• Complexity of Management: Managing diverse components of agroforestry systems, including trees, crops, and livestock, requires specialised knowledge and skills.
• Market Access and Value Chains: Farmers may face challenges in marketing tree products such as timber, fruits, or nuts, especially if there is insufficient infrastructure or demand for these products locally or regionally.
• Land Tenure and Ownership: Unclear land rights or disputes may discourage farmers from investing in long-term agroforestry practices, particularly on communal or disputed lands.
• Environmental and Climatic Factors: Agroforestry systems are susceptible to environmental and climatic factors such as drought, pests, diseases, and extreme weather events. 
  • Wasteland areas have poor soil quality, limited water availability, or may have harsh climatic conditions, which can affect the success and resilience of agroforestry initiatives.

GROW Initiative: Rejuvenation of Wastelands Through Agroforestry

• Addressing Sub-optimal Use of Arable Land: Converts wastelands into productive agroforestry systems, optimizing land use efficiency.
  • Reduces pressure on existing agricultural lands, preserving valuable arable land for food production.
• Livelihood Improvement: Offers diverse income opportunities for rural communities by integrating trees with crops or livestock.
  • Generates revenue through timber, fruits, nuts, and other agroforestry products, enhancing economic well-being.
• Reducing Import Dependency: Promotes indigenous and underutilized tree species to reduce reliance on Wood and Wood Products like imported timber.
  • Develops genetically improved material and practices for higher yields in agroforestry.
• Role in Addressing Global Commitments: Integrates trees, crops, and livestock, addressing challenges like food security and environmental conservation.
  • Aligns with global agreements such as the Paris Agreement, Bonn Challenge, and UN Sustainable Development Goals.
• Environmental Restoration: Agroforestry restores degraded lands by enhancing soil fertility, reducing erosion, and promoting biodiversity. Trees stabilize soil, prevent water runoff, and improve soil structure, mitigating land degradation.
• Climate Change Mitigation: Agroforestry contributes to carbon sequestration, combating global and national climate change.
• Sustainable Resource Management: Contributes to watershed protection, soil conservation and biodiversity conservation.

Way Forward

• Financial and Credit Support: Provide financial incentives, subsidies, and loans specifically targeted at agroforestry projects. Establish microfinance initiatives and cooperative credit societies  and collaborate with financial institutions to develop customized financial products for agroforestry projects.
  • For instance, the World Bank is backing India’s Ecosystem Services Improvement Project (ESIP), which aligns with the objectives of the Green India Mission by showcasing models for adaptation-based mitigation through sustainable land and ecosystem management, along with livelihood benefits.
• Technical Assistance: Establish knowledge-sharing platforms, farmer field schools, and demonstration plots to showcase successful agroforestry models. 
  • For instance, disseminating knowledge created by the Development of Digital Agroforestry Management Information System (DAMIS). 
  • DAMIS will create a geo-referenced database of agroforestry tree species and other species for trees outside forests across different agroclimatic zones.
• Foster Collaboration: Collaboration and coordination among research institutions, agricultural universities, NGOs, and government agencies to pool resources, share knowledge, and facilitate joint research projects on agroforestry. 

• • For instance, Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) and Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) could collaborate to extend ecologically sustainable and economically viable integrated agroforestry models to farmers.
• Strengthen Policy Framework: Formulate clear and supportive policies and regulations that recognize and incentivize agroforestry practices. 
  • For instance, regulatory systems could be liberalized to promote cultivation of high-value, long-rotation tree species like teak, mahogany, and sandalwood in agroforestry. 
  • States like Gujarat are allocating government-owned wastelands for cultivation, offering long-term leases to stakeholders.
• Utilization of Modern Technology for Fertility Enhancement: Wastelands can be made fertile for the cultivation through the use of modern technologies such as net house, greenhouse, mulching, and high-density plantation.
• Documentation of Best Practices: Document the best agroforestry practices and develop strategies for their scaling up, focusing on sustainable land and ecosystem management.
  • For instance, poplars, eucalyptus, Casuarina and Melia species along with multi-purpose tree species under dry lands have high potential to improve farmers’ income generation.

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