1.1 Substantial area in the country is still dependant on rainfall for farming. Due to the changing climatic pattern, rainfall is becoming more erratic, making cultivation a high risk and less productive profession over the years. It has therefore, becoming increasingly difficult for the majority of the Indian farmers to sustain their farm production, productivity and income. Agroforestry is known to have the potential to mitigate the climate change effects through microclimate moderation, conservation of natural resources and creation of additional source of livelihood and income opportunities. In order to make agriculture less vulnerable to climatic aberrations, Government of India formulated the National Agroforestry Policy in 2014. The policy recommends for setting up of a Mission or Board to address development of agroforestry sector in an organised manner. The Sub-Mission on Agroforestry (SMAF) under NMSA is an initiative to this end. The aim of the submission is to expand the tree coverage on farmland in complementary with agricultural crops.
1.2 Agroforestry not only provides environmental services, but also economic gains, as about 65 % of the country’s timber requirement is met from the trees grown outside forests. The Agroforestry Policy has identified various factors those have impeded the growth of the sector like non availability of quality planting material, prohibitive legal frame work particularly for felling and transit regulations, inadequate extension mechanism, lack of proper institutional support and focused programme for its development etc.
1.3 The mission is focused to achieve the quantifiable benefits such as increase tree cover to enhance carbon sequestration, enrichment of soil organic matter, availability of quality planting material, improvement in livelihood, productivity enhancement of crop and cropping systems, development of an information system etc.
Sub-Mission on Agroforestry will have following objectives:
2.1 To encourage and expand tree plantation in complementary and integrated manner with crops and livestock to improve productivity, employment opportunities, income generation and livelihoods of rural households, especially the small farmers.
2.2 To ensure availability of quality planting material like seeds, seedlings, clones, hybrids, improved varieties, etc.
2.3 To popularise various Agroforestry practices/models suitable to different agro ecological regions and land use conditions.
2.4 To create database, information and knowledge support in the area of agroforestry.
2.5 To provide extension and capacity building support to agroforestry sector.
To achieve these objectives for stimulating the growth of agroforestry in India, SMAF will have following multi-pronged strategy:
3.1 Expanding the coverage under tree plantation in arable land suitable to local agro climatic and land use conditions to provide livelihood, environmental and bio diversity protection by eencouraging farmers to grow trees in their farmland along with crops/cropping systems and/or livestock as an integral component of farming system.
3.2 Promoting setting up of new small nurseries and hi-tech big nurseries for producing quality planting materials like seeds, seedlings, clones, improved varieties to meet the requirement of quality planting material /seeds for the farmers.
3.3 Promoting various Agroforestry practices/models suitable to different agro ecological regions and land use conditions that will support adaptation and mitigation efforts in climate change. Promoting sustainable Agrisilvicultural systems, Silvipastoral systems, Agrisilvopastoral system, other systems of agroforestry viz. Apiculture with Trees, Aqua forestry etc.
3.4 Promoting Peripheral and Boundary Plantation on farms will serve as fencing of farm, demarcation of farm boundary, stabilizing farm bonds, protecting from soil erosion, improving soil moisture, enrichment of soil organic matter without affecting coverage under crops.
3.5 Low Density Plantation on Farm Lands including intermediate/strip plantation, High Density Block Plantation will also be supported in complementarily with crops/cropping system as agroforestry system.
3.6 Creating database on area under agorforestry, status of soil organic carbon, information and knowledge support etc. with use of ICT.
3.7 Capacity building / training for Development officials/workers, scientists and farmers under National & International exchange programmes; extension activities including Demonstration of suitable Agrisilvicultural, Silvipastoral, agrisilvopastoral system etc., Seminars/workshops / conferences/fairs & exhibitions and exposure visits at National and International level.
3.8 Implementation of the scheme only in the states having liberalized transit regulations for transport of timber and will be extended to other states as and when such relaxations are notified by them. Liberal transit rules will be a precondition for availing the benefit of the programmme.
3.9 The state Govt has to decide the Department / Agency for implementation of the progamme. Institutional mechanism as envisaged in the NMSA Guidelines would be adopted for the sub-mission being a submission of NMSA with the change that the implementing department / agency will be designated as Member Secretary.
3.10 Endemic and other species including trees of medicinal value suitable to the agroclimatic conditions will be promoted under the programme. Any species which are exotic, not suitable to the agro-ecology and not part of approved afforestation programme will not be supported.
3.11 Soil Health Cards will be made a pre-requisite for farmers getting the benefit under the programme to indicate the soil carbon status and facilitating assessment of Soil Carbon improvement from time to time.
3.12 The choice of stock type (bare-root or container or poly bags) used may depend on species, local availability, planting method preferred or cost. It is important that the seedlings for plantation should be of the highest quality possible. The shoot and root systems of the stock must be large enough and in balance so that the seedlings have a good probability of establishing and competing successfully in the field. A good fibrous/tape root system is desirable for most species. Seedlings should be free from diseases, and appear healthy. In particular, checking the quality of the roots system will be emphasised. It is important to be satisfied that the plants conform to Forest/Horticulture Department’s regulations or, any other National/State regulations on quality.
Directorate of Agriculture