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

Revitalization of Rivers In India
Draft Policy Recommendation
POLICY ENVIRONMENT FOR AGRO-FORESTRY AND FARM FORESTRY
Agroforestry finds mention in the National Agricultural Policy, 2000, where it is
stated that ‘farmers will be encouraged to take up farm/agroforestry for higher
income generation by evolving technology, extension and credit support packages
and removing constraints to development of agroforestry’. Other major policy
initiatives, including the National Forest Policy (1988), Planning Commission
Task Force on Greening India (2001), National Bamboo Mission (2002), National
Policy on Farmers (2007) and Green India Mission (2010), emphasize the role of
agroforestry for efficient nutrient cycling, organic matter addition for sustainable
agriculture and for improving vegetation cover. The Government of India (GoI)
has launched several schemes/projects like the National Bamboo Mission (NBM)
under the Ministry of Agriculture, Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY), National
Horticulture Mission (NHM), National Biofuel Policy, etc. wherein integrating
forestry components on farmlands has been given the much needed thrust.
The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) provides
financial and banking institutional support for social forestry, farm forestry
and afforestation of wastelands. Similarly, the National Medicinal Plants Board
(NMPB) under the AYUSH Ministry has emphasised integrating medicinal plants
and trees along with agricultural crops. Establishment of silvi-pastoral systems
and fodder blocks/banks has been envisaged in various schemes operated by the
Animal Husbandry Department. The National Afforestation and Eco-development
Board (NAEB) under the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change,
is also promoting agroforestry practices on farm and wastelands. In addition to
these schemes, State Governments also have schemes/projects that promote
agroforestry.
However, the lacuna of not having an exclusive policy for agroforestry at the
national level has hampered its adoption on a wider scale. In addition, agriculture
is a State subject and forestry falls under the Concurrent list. The complicated
and cumbersome legal procedures and hurdles involved in growing, felling,
transportation and marketing of tree species have acted as barriers. Markets and
market information about tree components are not well established in all places
514 Annexures