Lok Sabha Question No. 1162 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-03
Subject: Potential of Agroforestry Sector
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Eatala Rajender, Smt. D K Aruna

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1162

TO BE ANSWERED ON 3 RD  DECEMBER, 2024

## POTENTIAL OF AGROFORESTRY SECTOR

## 1162.  SMT.  D K ARUNA:

## SHRI EATALA RAJENDER:

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

- (a) whether the  country's  vast  potential  in  the  agro-forestry    sector  is  a  unique opportunity to integrate with carbon finance projects through Afforestation, Reforestation, and Revegetation (ARR) initiative and there is a possibility to expand the  area  under  agro-forestry  from  the  current  28.4  million  hectares  to  53  million hectares by 2050  as agro-forestry accounts for 8.65 per cent of the country's total land area and contributes 19.3 per cent carbon stocks and thus, agro-forestry plays a significant role in environmental sustainability and economic development; and If so, the details thereof and the steps being taken till date results yielded during

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण राǛ मंũी (SHRI BHAGIRATH CHOUDHARY)

(a) & (b): Agroforestry  is  known  to  have  the  potential  to  mitigate  the  effects  of climate change through microclimate moderation, conservation of natural resources, enhance carbon sequestration/reduce emission of Green House Gases and creation of additional sources of livelihood opportunities. The Government of India formulated the National Agroforestry Policy in 2014 to encourage tree plantation in agriculture landscape. The policy recommends for setting up of a Mission to address development of the agroforestry sector in an organized manner. The Sub-Mission on Agroforestry (SMAF) was implemented from 2016-17 till 2021-22 in 23 States/UTs with an aim to

- (b) the last nine years?

encourage tree plantation on farm land with the motto of 'Har Medh Par Ped', along with crops/cropping system to help the farmers to get additional income and make their farming systems more climate resilient and adaptive. During 2016-17 to 2021-22, a total area of 1.21 lakh hectare has been covered under plantation with a total number of 532.30 lakh trees planted under the scheme.

The program  continues as Agro-forestry components of Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana  (RKVY)  from    2023-24.  The  restructured    Agroforestry  Component  under RKVY supports setting up of Agroforestry nurseries with an aim to provide Quality Planting Material (QPM)/quality seedlings to farmers. During the year 2023-24, a total no.  of  156  New  Agroforestry  Nurseries  have  been  established  and  470  Existing Nurseries have been supported.

Agroforestry models developed by ICAR-Central Agroforestry  Research Institute (CAFRI) and Indian Council of Forestry Research & Education (ICFRE) for different climatic zones are promoted under the scheme for encouraging inter-cropping with  agricultural  crops.  Apart  from  this,  Agroforestry  plantation  activity  as  well  as seedlings distribution to farmers are being carried out under different schemes of the Government  including  Mahatma  Gandhi  National  Rural  Employment  Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), Prime Minister Krishi Sinchayee Yojna (Watershed Development Component), schemes of State Forest Department etc. As per ICARCAFRI report, the total area under Agroforestry in the country is about 28.427 million hectare as on October 2022.

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