Lok Sabha Question No. 269 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-05
Subject: Agroforestry Practices
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: S. Jagathrakshakan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE & FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 269

TO BE ANSWERED ON 5 TH  DECEMBER, 2023

## AGROFORESTRY PRACTICES

## 269.   SHRI S. JAGATHRAKSHAKAN

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण मंũी be pleased to state:

- (a) Whether the Government is cognizant that Agroforestry practices can help achieve a  variety  of  environmental  objectives,  including  lowering  odour,  dust  and  noise,  visual aesthetics and green space, wildlife habitat improvement or preservation and also can help mitigate climate change while also providing adaptive advantages; and
- (b) If so, the initiatives that are proposed to be taken by the Government keeping in view the fact that wider adoption of Agroforestry in many parts of the world by small-scale farmers  has  made  their  farming  less  prone  to  disadvantages  arising  due  to  climate change?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण मंũी (SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

(a) & (b): The  Government  is  cognizant  that  Agroforestry  practices  can  help achieve a variety of environmental objectives and it has the potential to mitigate the climate change effects through microclimate moderation and conservation of natural resources.  Agroforestry plantations also provide habitat for different fauna, besides giving  visual  aesthetics  and  green  landscape.  Therefore,  keeping  in  view  the importance of Agroforestry, a land use system that integrates trees and shrubs on farmlands and rural landscapes to enhance productivity, profitability,  diversity  and ecosystem sustainability, natural resource management system through integration of trees on farms and in the agricultural landscape, diversifies and sustains production and builds social institutions; the Government  has formulated the National Agroforestry  Policy-2014.  The  policy  envisages  encouraging  and  expanding  tree plantation  in  complementarity  and  integrated  manner  with  crops  and  livestock  to improve  productivity,  employment,  income  and  livelihoods  of  rural  households, especially  the  smallholder  farmers.  It  also  focuses  on  protecting  and  stabilizing ecosystems and promoting resilient cropping and farming systems to minimize the risk during extreme climatic events.

As recommended in the National Agroforestry Policy; Sub-Mission on Agroforestry  (SMAF)  was  launched  in  the  year  2016-17  to  encourage  tree plantation  on  farm  land  with  the  aim  of  'Har  Medh  Par  Ped',  along  with  crops/ cropping  system  to  help  the  farmers  get  additional  income.  Sub-Mission  on Agroforestry (SMAF) was implemented from 2016-17 to 2021-22. Presently, the restructured Agroforestry Component is being implemented under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) and focuses on Quality Planting Material. Under the restructured  Agroforestry  component  of  RKVY,  financial  assistance  is  being provided to farmers for establishing nurseries and raising saplings. Agroforestry is known  to  have  the  potential      to  mitigate  the  climate  change  effects  through microclimate  moderation,  conservation  of  natural  resources  and  creation  of  an additional source of livelihood and income opportunities. The scheme  is implemented  with  objectives  to  encourage  and  expand  tree  plantation  in  a complementary  and  integrated  manner  with  crops  to  improve  productivity, additional  income  generation  and  improved  livelihoods  of  rural  households, especially  the  small  farmers.  The  details  of  cost  norms  of  assistance  being provided are shown at Annexure. I.

## Annexure-I to the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 269 due for answer on 05.12.2023

## Details  of  Cost  Norms  of  Assistance  being  provided  under  the  Agroforestry Component of RKVY

| S.No.   | Name of interventions                              | Unit Cost (Upper Limit) (Rs. In Lakh)   | Remarks                                                                                                                                        |
|---------|----------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 1.      | Establishment of new nurseries                     | Establishment of new nurseries          | Establishment of new nurseries                                                                                                                 |
| 1.      | (a) Hi-Tech ( 2 ha)                                | 50.00                                   | 100% assistance to Government agencies for taking up the work on Government land and 50% assistance to Private Agency/ individual entrepreneur |
| 1.      | (b) Big (1 ha)                                     | 16.00                                   | 100% assistance to Government agencies for taking up the work on Government land and 50% assistance to Private Agency/ individual entrepreneur |
| 1.      | (c) Small (0.5 ha)                                 | 10.00                                   | 100% assistance to Government agencies for taking up the work on Government land and 50% assistance to Private Agency/ individual entrepreneur |
| 2.      | Raising saplings in the existing nursery           | Upto Rs. 5.00 Lakh/nursery              | 100% assistance to Government agencies for taking up the work on Government land and 50% assistance to Private Agency/ individual entrepreneur |
| 3.      | Establishment of Tissue Culture Units              | Establishment of Tissue Culture Units   | Establishment of Tissue Culture Units                                                                                                          |
|         | (a) Strengthening of existing tissue culture units | 20.00                                   | 100% assistance to Government agencies and 50% back ended credit linked assistance for private partners                                        |
|         | (b) Establishment of new tissue culture units      | 200.00                                  | 100% assistance to Government agencies and 50% back ended credit linked assistance for private partners                                        |

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