Lok Sabha Question No. 2545 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-05
Subject: Promotion of Agroforestry
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Charanjit Singh Channi

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2545

TO BE ANSWERED ON 5 TH  AUGUST,2025

## PROMOTION OF AGROFORESTRY

## 2545.  SHRI CHARANJIT SINGH CHANNI:

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

- (a) whether the Government is actively promoting agroforestry as a means to improve farm incomes and strengthen  environmental  conservation,  particularly  in  terms  of  soil  health,  carbon  sequestration,  and biodiversity;
- (b) if  so,  the  details  of  the  national  and  State-level  schemes  that  are  currently  operational  in  Punjab, including  their  objectives  and  scope,  the  assistance  and  incentives  (financial  or  technical)  provided  to farmers,  the  total  area  (in  hectares)  under  agroforestry  in  Punjab  so  far,  and  the  agency  or  authority responsible for implementation and monitoring;
- (c)      the target for expansion of agroforestry under these schemes in Punjab over the next five years, including estimated increases in farmer income and environmental benefits; and
- (d) the details of any collaborations with technology partners to support seed quality, pest management, and real-time growth tracking of agroforestry plantations in Punjab?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण राǛ मंũी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)

- (a): To promote agroforestry, Government is implementing Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Agroforestry under Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (PMRKVY) since 2023-24. Before this, Agroforestry was promoted under Sub-Mission on Agroforestry (SMAF) from 2016-17 to 2021-22 in the country, including the state of Punjab. Agroforestry enhances agroecology, improves soil organic carbon  and has high carbon sequestration  potential.  By  increasing  green  cover,  agroforestry  addresses  the  loss  of  diversity  in agricultural landscapes, helping to mitigate pollution and conserve biodiversity.
- (b) to (d): Under  SMAF,    Rs.  10.3595  crore  was  released  to  Punjab,  covering  an  area  of  9,808.32 hectares  by  planting  54.37  lakh  trees  from  2016-17  to  2021-22.  Presently  State  of  Punjab  is  not implementing Agroforestry Component under RKVY. However, as informed by the State Government, the Department of Forests & Wildlife Preservation, Govt. of Punjab is implementing the State Scheme of  'Crop diversification through Agro Forestry' under Green  Punjab Mission since 2022-23. The objective of the scheme is to diversify the present agricultural crop cycle of wheat and paddy by promoting agroforestry for which financial assistance is being provided to farmers.  Under this Scheme, an area of approximately 10130 Hectare has been covered under agrofrestry from  2022-23 to 2024-25.

Further, Department of Forests & Wildlife Preservation, Government of Punjab aims to cover about 50,000 Hectare under agroforestry under 'Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Project' during next 8 years from the year 2026-27 onwards.The project will address both environmental sustainability and socio-economic development. Key expected outcomes include  substantial increase in forest and tree cover through agroforestry interventions, thereby leading to improved income & livelihoods of farmers, enhancing carbon sequestration and supporting local industries with sustainable timber resources.

State  has  technical  collaboration  with  Forest  Research  Institute  (F.R.I.)  Dehradun  and  Punjab Agriculture University (P.A.U.), Ludhiana for research on new and more productive planting material for agroforestry and pest management. The State has also entrusted a project to Punjab Remote Sensing Centre, Ludhiana to map agroforestry plantations in the State.

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