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

Revitalization of Rivers In India
Draft Policy Recommendation
climatic zone where plantation will take place. In phase 2 and 3, village
nurseries can take over sapling production. This will be a livelihood
activity for the selected clusters and result in availability of saplings best
suited to the agro-climatic zone.
Therefore it is important to develop sufficient infrastructure
to produce high quality planting material. This is especially so if we
are to make them chemical-free. It is therefore required to evaluate
infrastructural capability in this regard in each concerned state. It is also
required to strengthen the existing infrastructure of nurseries run by the
agriculture, horticulture and forest departments and universities and also
accredited private nurseries. There would need to be a focus on supporting
community based nurseries to fill the resource gaps in relation to quality
planting materials, training of personnel, accreditation and organic
certification requirements.
AGRICULTURE DEPARTMENT
In this project, the Forest department and Agriculture department
can start the implementation once a detailed Project Report is ready.
The Production of the QPM is the most important aspect in the whole
program. The respective departments then hold the responsibility to
reach out and distribute these saplings to the farmers.
Perhaps the most complex part of the responsibility, involving
persistent and sustained engagement, is regarding the behavior and
mindset change of the riverine farmers. The required change in mindset is
not a simple one as such. We are asking a farmer to move to a completely
new system of farming – non-pesticide farming, and also to change the
crop to trees that we suggest him or her to grow. This is a huge risk which
involves his livelihood. When such a change is proposed the responsibility
falls on the agriculture department to de-risk this transition from all
quarters, as follows:
• Information and training of riverine farmers on tree plantation
through KVKs and other outreach institutions
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