Revitalization of Rivers in India Draft Policy - Isha Guru Jaggi Vasudev

Revitalization of Rivers In India
Draft Policy Recommendation
cropping system aimed at crop diversification and intensive cropping in
the interspaces available, which is highly rewarding and sustainable. 46
Similarly, research by ICAR’s Central Institute for Arid Horticulture
(CIAR), Bikaner, Rajasthan, has confirmed that in order to mitigate the
risk of total crop failure, suitable crop combinations involving perennial
fruit crops like Amla + Ber or Khejri (a fodder tree) + Cluster bean +
fennel / coriander are found sustainable and remunerative under arid
conditions. 47 The yield of intercrops was found higher under multiple
cropping as compared to mono-cropping. The perennial fruit crops,
whose canopies are regularly maintained through pruning, help to
maximize the overall productivity, and improve the physical, chemical
and biological properties of the soil through leaf litter.
PRECEDENTS EXIST FOR A HORTICULTURE BASED LIVELIHOOD
MODEL FOR INDIAN FARMERS
The horticulture based solution proposed here for a private farmer
has precedents. One such large-scale tree plantation was done by Bharat
Agro-Industries Foundation (BAIF) in Wadi region in Gujarat. This has
subsequently been adopted by many horticulture departments of other
state governments. It is also pertinent to note that the Wadi Model is
recognized by NABARD for improving the livelihoods of marginalized
tribal farming communities. They have adopted the one-acre Wadi
Model for replication at a national level with the support of the Central
Government.
Similarly Project GreenHands of Isha has also been working with
farmers in Tamil Nadu and encouraging them to move to agroforestry
under its “Trees for Life” program.
Maharashtra Government through its Employment Guarantee
Scheme (EGS), has facilitated the shift of a large number of farmers from
annual crops to horticulture / fruit-tree crops. This was much before the
MNREGA program was initiated by the Central Government.
148