Lok Sabha Question No. 291 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-05
Subject: Farming and Forestry
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Kani K. Navas

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 291

TO BE ANSWERED ON 5 TH  DECEMBER, 2023

## FARMING AND FORESTRY

## 291.   SHRI K. NAVASKANI

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  blending  of  farming  and  forestry has  a  number  of  advantages,  including  higher  yields  from  staple  food  crops, improved farmer livelihoods through wealth creation, increased biodiversity, enhanced soil structure and health, limited erosion, and carbon sequestration; and
- (b) If so, the details of the steps that are proposed to be taken by the Government to  improve  the  agricultural  system's  functioning  and  sustainability  keeping  in  mind that  Agroforestry  could  provide  a  variety  of  ecosystem  services  that  can  help  to ensure long-term agricultural sustainability?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

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

(a)& (b): The Government is cognizant that blending of farming and forestry has number of advantages.  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. 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. 291 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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