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

Revitalization of Rivers In India
Draft Policy Recommendation
also give farmers the strength to participate in markets, as their
graded and aggregated produce will now become substantial in
quantity.
(c) Behavior Change Communication to Stakeholders: The proposed
solution of large-scale tree plantation of native and endemic
species in public land, and multi-tier tree-based agriculture in
farmlands, must take into consideration all the stakeholders. Every
individual who consumes water is a stakeholder in revitalizing
rivers. Stakeholders must undergo a change in mindset and take
up their respective responsibilities in this process: farmers and
tribal communities have to plant the trees; consumers must use
the fruits/produce; government departments have to facilitate
implementation; and industrialists must build partnerships
with FPOs. A persistent, recurring, long-term behavior change
communication is required.
3.3. DE-RISKING FARMERS
(a) Financing and Risk Insurance:
(i) Compensation of notional loss of farmers’ income:
Transitioning to multi-purpose/fruit tree cultivation involves
DRAFT
a loss of income for the farmer until there is commercial yield
from the trees. Therefore, the farmer’s notional loss of income
should be suitably compensated. This compensation should not
be viewed as a subsidy but as an investment, through which
the farmer will benefit from attractive financial returns and
livelihood security in the years to come.
(ii) Financial linkages through existing government schemes/
programs or financial institutions/banks need to be facilitated
to help farmers transition from annual crops to multi-purpose
trees and fruit-tree cultivation. This financial assistance, in the
form of low interest or zero interest loans, is required to help
farmers adapt to the practice of intercropping (which will reduce
the transition period and income loss).
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