Context:
Recently, the Greening and Restoration of Wasteland with Agroforestry (GROW) report and portal was launched by NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India).
Relevance:
GS II: Government policies and Interventions
Dimensions of the Article:
- Key Highlights of the GROW Report: Facilitating Land Restoration and Agroforestry
- GROW Portal: Enhancing Access to Agroforestry Data
- Agroforestry: A Holistic Land Use Approach
- Impacts of Agroforestry: Nurturing Prosperity and Sustainability
Key Highlights of the GROW Report: Facilitating Land Restoration and Agroforestry
The GROW report is designed to support restoration initiatives, aligning with national goals of Land Degradation Neutrality and the restoration of 26 million hectares of degraded land by 2030.
National Commitments:
- Aims to create an additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent.
Wasteland Assessment:
- India has approximately 55.76 million hectares of wastelands, constituting 16.96% of the total geographical area.
- Degraded lands have experienced reduced productivity and biodiversity due to natural and human-induced factors.
Agroforestry Solutions:
- Proposes greening and restoring wastelands through agroforestry.
Current Agroforestry Status:
- Agroforestry covers 8.65% of India’s total geographical area, equivalent to about 28.42 million hectares.
- Approximately 6.18% and 4.91% of India’s land are highly and moderately suitable for agroforestry, respectively.
State-wise Suitability:
- Top large-sized states for agroforestry suitability: Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Telangana.
- Top medium-sized states: Jammu and Kashmir, Manipur, and Nagaland (as per ISRO).
Policy and Institutional Support:
- Identifies the need for policy and institutional backing to scale up agroforestry interventions in wastelands.
Alignment with Policies:
- Emphasizes India’s National Agroforestry Policy of 2014, aligning with global commitments such as the Paris Agreement, Bonn Challenge, UN Sustainable Development Goals, UNCCD, Green India Mission, and more.
GROW Portal: Enhancing Access to Agroforestry Data
- Platform Hosting:
- The GROW portal is seamlessly integrated into the Bhuvan platform, ensuring universal accessibility.
- Data Accessibility:
- Provides access to state and district-level data concerning agroforestry suitability across India.
- Technological Foundation:
- Leverages remote sensing and Geographic Information System (GIS) technologies to derive thematic datasets.
- Offers in-depth information on various factors influencing agroforestry suitability.
- Agroforestry Suitability Index (ASI):
- Introduces the ASI, a standardized index aiding in the prioritization of agroforestry interventions nationally.
- Key Insights:
- Delivers comprehensive insights into the existing extent of agroforestry in India.
- Highlights geographical distribution and overall coverage of agroforestry practices.
- User-Friendly Interface:
- Users can explore detailed maps and assessments through the portal, facilitating informed decision-making.
- Promoting Informed Interventions:
- The GROW portal acts as a valuable resource for individuals and organizations involved in agroforestry planning and implementation.
Agroforestry: A Holistic Land Use Approach
Definition:
- Agroforestry is a sustainable land-use management system that integrates trees and shrubs with agricultural crops and livestock.
Traditional Significance in India:
- An integral part of Indian agriculture meeting diverse needs like wood, fuelwood, fodder, and subsistence requirements.
- Practiced across varied farming scales, from small and marginal farmers in rainfed conditions to large farmers under irrigated settings.
Evolution of Policies:
- The All India Coordinated Research Project (AICRP) on Agroforestry in 1983 marked formal integration into research agendas.
- Key policy initiatives, including the National Forest Policy 1988, National Agriculture Policy 2000, National Bamboo Mission 2002, National Policy on Farmers 2007, and Green India Mission 2010, emphasized agroforestry.
- Momentum increased with the adoption of the National Agroforestry Policy (NAP) in 2014.
- India became the world’s first country to embrace a comprehensive agroforestry policy.
National Agroforestry Policy (NAP) 2014:
- A policy framework enhancing agricultural livelihoods by integrating trees, crops, and livestock on the same land plot.
- Launched in February 2014 during the World Congress on Agroforestry in Delhi.
Sub-Mission on Agroforestry (SMAF):
- Launched in 2016-17 under the National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA).
- Aims to encourage and expand tree plantation on farmland with the motto “Har Medh Par Ped,” in conjunction with crops and cropping systems.
Impacts of Agroforestry: Nurturing Prosperity and Sustainability
- Positive Yield Growth: Agroforestry systems yield positive growth for fruits, timber, and crops, elevating overall agricultural productivity.
- Economic Viability: Economically sustainable, agroforestry introduces additional income streams through diverse sources like timber, fuelwood, and fodder.
- Nutritional and Health Benefits: Systems focusing on fruit crops contribute to improved nutrition and health, positively impacting community well-being.
- Gender Dynamics and Women’s Empowerment: Despite significant women’s participation, further research is essential to understand agroforestry’s impact on gender dynamics and women’s empowerment.
- Enhanced Soil Health: Agroforestry enhances soil fertility, nutrient cycling, and soil organic carbon, fostering sustainable land management practices.
- Water-Use Efficiency and Conservation: Improves water-use efficiency, mitigates soil erosion, and actively contributes to watershed management and conservation endeavors.
- Climate Change Mitigation: Serves as a vital biomass energy source and carbon sequestration contributor, aiding in climate change mitigation efforts.
- Biodiversity Conservation: Promotes biodiversity conservation by providing habitats, supporting species movement, and mitigating deforestation rates.
