CAFRI Jhansi Vision 2050

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Central Agroforestry Research Institute

(Indian Council of Agricultural Research)


Near Pahuj Dam, Gwalior Road
Jhansi 284  003 (U.P.) India

www.nrcaf.res.in
Printed : July 2015CTO (Production) :Kul Bhushan Gupta

All Rights Reserved


© 2015, Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi
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Foreword
Indian Council of Agricultural Research, since inception in the year
1929, is spearheading national programmes on agricultural research,
higher education and frontline extension through a network of Research
Institutes, Agricultural Universities, All India Coordinated Research
Projects and Krishi Vigyan Kendras to develop and demonstrate
new technologies, as also to develop competent human resource for
strengthening agriculture in all its dimensions, in the country. The
science and technology-led development in agriculture has resulted in
manifold enhancement in productivity and production of different crops
and commodities to match the pace of growth in food demand.
Agricultural production environment, being a dynamic entity, has kept
evolving continuously. The present phase of changes being encountered
by the agricultural sector, such as reducing availability of quality water,
nutrient deficiency in soils, climate change, farm energy availability,
loss of biodiversity, emergence of new pest and diseases, fragmentation
of farms, rural-urban migration, coupled with new IPRs and trade
regulations, are some of the new challenges.
These changes impacting agriculture call for a paradigm shift in our
research approach. We have to harness the potential of modern science,
encourage innovations in technology generation, and provide for an
enabling policy and investment support. Some of the critical areas as
genomics, molecular breeding, diagnostics and vaccines, nano technology,
secondary agriculture, farm mechanization, energy, and technology
dissemination need to be given priority. Multi-disciplinary and multi-
institutional research will be of paramount importance, given the fact
that technology generation is increasingly getting knowledge and capital
intensive. Our institutions of agricultural research and education must
attain highest levels of excellence in development of technologies and
competent human resource to effectively deal with the changing scenario.
Vision-2050 document of ICAR-Central Agroforestry Research
Institute (CAFRI), Jhansi has been prepared, based on a comprehensive
assessment of past and present trends in factors that impact agriculture,
to visualise scenario 35 years, hence towards science-led sustainable
development of agriculture.

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Indian Council of Agricultural Research

We are hopeful that in the years ahead, Vision-2050 would prove to


be valuable in guiding our efforts in agricultural R&D and also for the
young scientists who would shoulder the responsibility to generate farm
technologies in future for food, nutrition, livelihood and environmental
security of the billion plus population of the country, for all times to
come.

(S. AYYAPPAN)
Secretary, Department of Agricultural Research & Education (DARE)
and Director-General, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)
Krishi Bhavan, Dr Rajendra Prasad Road,
New Delhi 110 001

vi
Preface
The Central Agroforestry Research Institute (CAFRI), erstwhile National
Research Centre for Agroforestry at Jhansi under the aegis of Indian
Council of Agricultural Research is the only institution in the South-
Asia representing the integration of agriculture and forestry to increase
the productivity and sustainability of farming system to augment farm
income and provide livelihood security. The organized research conducted
by the CAFRI and AICRP on Agroforestry with its 37 Centres located
in different parts of the country have led to notable accomplishments in
land use and farm income diversification, natural resource management,
climate resilience, secondary agriculture and economic transformation of
farmers through technological interventions.
Agroforestry, the practice of introducing trees in farming has played a
significant role in enhancing land productivity and improving livelihood
in both rainfed and irrigated ecologies. At the same time agroforestry
interventions in farmland have far reaching environmental and ecological
impacts. The role of agroforestry in soil conservation, bio-amelioration
and climate moderation is most widely acclaimed and one of the
compelling reasons for including trees on farm lands. It is now a proven
fact that the global climate is changing and measures for its mitigation
and adaptation are essential to face the new challenges. Agroforestry
has the potential to mitigate the climate change through micro-climate
moderation and natural resources conservation in short run and through
carbon sequestration in long run. Thus, the present challenges of
food, nutrition, energy and environment security can be met through
different agroforestry systems developed for various agro-climatic zones.
Agroforestry has a great potential to provide employment to rural and
urban population through industrial application and value addition.
With the implementation of recently launched National Agroforestry
Policy, it is likely to transform the rural economy by expanding tree
plantation in complementarities and integrated manner with crops and
livestock to improve productivity, employment, income and livelihoods
of rural households, especially the small holder farmers, besides help in
mitigating climate change effects.
The systematic efforts to envision the challenges and opportunities,
and formulate its own strategy were undertaken in 1997, 2007 and

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Indian Council of Agricultural Research

2011 by preparing ‘Vision 2020’, ‘Perspective Plan 2025’, and ‘NRCAF


Vision 2030’, respectively. The present document, articulates the
strategies to overcome the present challenges and tap the opportunities
by harnessing the power of science and undertaking boundary less
partnership with different stakeholders in supply chain at regional,
national and international level. I would like to express my gratitude
to Dr. S. Ayyappan, Secretary, DARE and Director General, ICAR
for his valuable guidance in preparing the document. I am grateful to
Dr. A. K. Sikka, Deputy Director General (NRM) and Dr. B. Mohan
Kumar, ADG (Agronomy, Agroforestry & Climate Change), ICAR
for their keen interest and valuable comments, while reviewing the
drafts. I gratefully acknowledge the contribution of Dr. S. K. Dhyani,
Ex. Director, CAFRI, in the finalization of VISION 2050. I am also
thankful to the Chairman, and Members of QRT and RAC, IMC and
other stakeholders for their inputs in finalizing this Document.
I appreciate the efforts of all the scientists and Programme Leaders
of the Institute in timely bringing out this Document. I am sure that
CAFRI Vision 2050 would guide all the stakeholders engaged in
agroforestry research in achieving higher, sustainable and inclusive
agricultural growth.

(Anil Kumar)
Director
ICAR-CAFRI, Jhansi

viii
Contents
Message iii

Foreword v

Preface vii

1. Context 1

2. Challenges 5

3. Operating Environment 11

4. CAFRI and Agroforestry network 15

5. New Opportunities 18

6. Goals and Targets 24

7. Strategy to Achieve the Objectives and Outputs 29

8. Way Forward 33

References 35
Context

I ndianagriculture is facing diverse challenges and constraints due to


growing demographic pressure, increasing food, feed, pulp, fodder
and timber needs, natural resource degradation and climate change.
Diversification of land use with agroforestry as a component can address
some of these challenges. Agroforestry has traditionally been a way of
life and livelihood in India for centuries. The country has also been in
the forefront since organized agroforestry research started worldwide.
It developed robust agroforestry science, innovations and practices that
are attracting global interest.
Organized agroforestry research in India began in the late eighties
when the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) launched
the All India Coordinated Research Project (AICRP) on Agroforestry
in 1983. Further, Central Agroforestry Research Institute (CAFRI),
erstwhile National Research Centre for Agroforestry (NRCAF) was
established on 8th May in 1988 at Jhansi to accelerate basic, strategic
and applied research in agroforestry. At present there are 37 Centres
under AICRP on Agroforestry representing the major agro-ecologies
of the country with the project coordinating unit at CAFRI, Jhansi.
The significant contributions of agroforestry research include – the
Diagnosis and Design of the agroforestry practices, Collection and
Evaluation of Multi-Purpose Tree Species (MPTS) and Development and
Management of Agroforestry Systems for different agroclimatic regions.
The Diagnostic and Design survey by the centres generated valuable
information and identified important agroforestry practices in the
country. A significant contribution of the project was on Tree Selection
and Improvements for species such as poplar, eucalyptus, Dalbergia,
Neem, Acacia, Leucaena, Ailanthus, Pongamia, Casuarina, Anogeissus,
bamboos and Mangium hybrids. Registration of the elite germplasm
of shisham by NRCAF (Bundel-1 and Bundel-2) and GBPUAT (PS
52), poplar clones (L-48/89, L-47/88) by PAU, Ludhiana, teak clone
(PDKV/AF/1) by College of Agriculture, Nagpur and eucalyptus (SRY-
16) by MPKV, Rahuri are some of the examples. Similarly, in neem, elite
germplasm with high yield and high, stable azadirachtin content have
been identified. Clonal seed orchards for Dalbergia, Acacia species have
been established. Amongst various bamboo species evaluated for growth,
productivity and compatibility under agroforestry, Bambusa vulgaris has

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Indian Council of Agricultural Research

been found most promising on farmer’s field in Bundelkhand region


and elsewhere. Agronomic practices for raising the promising MPTS in
association with annual crops have been developed and standardized.
Morus and Grewia based- system for western Himalayas, alder based-
for North-Eastern Hill region, poplar based- for Indo-Gangetic region,
aonla and khejri based- for semi-arid and arid regions, teak based- for
tropical region and Gmelina and Acacia based-system for Humid and
Sub humid regions have been developed. Packages have also been
developed for development of wastelands through agroforestry. AICRP
on Agroforestry initiated systematic work on biofuel research in 2003
with major emphasis on jatropha and pongamia. A network project
on bamboo based agroforestry has also been initiated in 2007 at six
centres. In addition, agroforestry practices have been intertwined with
the various programs/ schemes like watershed development, rehabilitation
of problem soils, treatment of degraded and other wastelands etc. A
large private sector industry has already developed around several tree
products and there are good examples where agroforestry has made a
significant impact on the economy, livelihoods and landscapes. Poplar
and Eucalyptus based agroforestry in Indo-Gangetic region; Eucalyptus,
Leucaena and Casuarina based agroforestry in Andhra Pradesh and other
southern states; Ailanthus based in Gujarat are successful examples to
name a few. The multifunctional home-gardens in Kerala and other
coastal states promote food security and diversity and provide basic
needs of food, fuel-wood, fodder, plant-derived medicines, and cash
income from their small holdings. They also provide 70 to 84 per cent
of the commercial timber requirements in these states (Kumar and Nair,
2004). Agroforestry is also providing livelihood opportunities through

A multistoried agroforestry system from humid tropics

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Vision 2050

lac, apiculture and sericulture cultivation. Suitable trees for gum and
resin have been identified for development under agroforestry.
Agroforestry systems also provide environmental services in addition
to the economic gains and other contributions. Agroforestry systems
increase and conserve aboveground and soil carbon stocks. Agroforestry
thus contributes to the resilience of agriculture by adaptation and
mitigation of climate change effects. In India, evidence is now emerging
that agroforestry systems are promising land use system to increase and
conserve aboveground and soil carbon stocks to mitigate climate change
(Dhyani et al., 2009). Average sequestration potential in agroforestry in
India has been estimated to be 25 t C ha-1 over 96 million ha (Sathaye
and Ravindranath, 1998). In another estimate agroforestry contributes
19.30% of total C stock under different land uses. The potential of
agroforestry systems as carbon sink varies depending upon the species
composition, age of trees, geographic location, local climatic factors
and management regimes. The growing body of literature indicates
that agroforestry systems has the potential to sequester large amounts
of above and below ground carbon in addition to SOC enhancement,
as compared to treeless farming systems (Ajit et al., 2013). Agroforestry
is contributing to achieve the national goal as desired tree cover from
present less than 25 per cent to 33 per cent in the country can only
be achieved by planting trees on farm field/bunds, especially in states
that have low tree cover.
However, increasing demand of household and wood based
industries and changing priorities in bio-fuels, bio-energy, tree borne
oil seeds (TBOs), value addition, crop diversification, employment
generation, watershed protection, carbon sequestration, ecosystem
services and mitigating climate change effects call for new thrust in
agroforestry research and development.
Central Agroforestry Research Institute (CAFRI), erstwhile
NRC for Agroforestry prepared its first Perspective Plan in 1997 to
conceptualize, visualize and achieve the targets and programmes for
agroforestry research in the country by preparing ‘Vision 2020’. This
was followed by preparing ‘Perspective Plan 2025’ in 2007 to address
the changes that had taken place and to address emerging issues and
challenges. In view of rapid changes during the last one decade mainly
due to climate change which affected agriculture in a big way, a
‘NRCAF Vision 2030’ document was prepared in 2011. The document
highlighted key challenges and opportunities in the agriculture sector in
general and agroforestry sector in particular in the coming two decades
for development of an appropriate strategy and roadmap to define

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Indian Council of Agricultural Research

the role of CAFRI in shaping the future of the Indian agricultural


research for growth, development and equity. However, as there is a
considerable time gap between initiation of research and significant
output, dissemination and adoption of technology particularly with
tree based system, hence long term planning is required to meet future
challenges. The ‘CAFRI Vision 2050’ is prepared keeping in view the
future challenges and opportunities and will help in long term planning
of agroforestry research in the country.

4
Challenges

I ndian agriculture is facing diverse challenges and constraints due to


growing demographic pressure, increasing food, feed, pulp, fodder
and timber needs, natural resource degradation and climate change.
Diversification of land use with agroforestry as a component can address
some of these challenges. Agroforestry has traditionally been a way of
life and livelihood in India for centuries. The country has also been in
the forefront since organized agroforestry research started worldwide.
It developed robust agroforestry science, innovations and practices that
are attracting global interest.
India faces a critical imbalance in its natural resource base with
about 18 per cent human and 15 per cent of livestock population of the
world being supported only on 2.4 per cent of geographical area, 1.5
per cent of forest and pasture lands and 4.2 per cent of water resources.
Agriculture sector contributes about 15 per cent of the national GDP,
employs 56 per cent of the total workforce and supports about 58 per
cent of the total population. Thus, this sector is very vital not only
to provide income support, but also to ensure livelihood security for
majority of the people. However, there are some serious concerns which
of late, have emerged. The foremost among them is global warming.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC, 2007), in its
Fourth Assessment Report concluded that the increasing Greenhouse
Gases (GHG) have resulted in global warming by 0.74°C over the last
100 years. The IPCC have predicted an increase of 1.8 to 4.0°C by
the end of this century. Such changes are expected to adversely affect
agriculture covering crops, trees, soils, livestock and fisheries. The
indirect effects of climate change on water resources are likely to be
very critical. Likewise, soil organic carbon and other basic soil processes
will be affected. The adverse effects of climatic change are expected to
be relatively high in India due to dependence of large population on
agriculture, degradation of natural resources, increasing human and
livestock population, wide range of pests and diseases, low levels of
technology and changing patterns in land use. A serious threat is being
predicted in meeting the food, fibre, fuel and fodder requirements of
the growing population.
It is estimated that India will be the most populous country in the
world by 2028 surpassing China (The World Population Prospects- The

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Indian Council of Agricultural Research

2012 Revision, UN, The Hindu, June 13, 2013). Population of the
country will touch 1.4 billion mark by 2025 and 1.6 billion by 2050.
Thus, there will be an increase of about 33 per cent in population of
the country, but the per capita surface water availability and per capita
utilizable surface water will decline by about 30 per cent by 2050 as
compared to present. These all effects will result in low agricultural
and livestock productivity, less industrial output and degradation of
natural resources, which ultimately raise the concerns for livelihood
opportunities, employment generation and natural resource conservation
(Figure 1).

Fig. 1 Cause effect of challenges faced by agriculture

Presently, in India, about 60 per cent of the cropped area is rainfed,


which contribute about 44 per cent of food-grain production. Its
contribution in coarse cereals & pulses is about 90 per cent, in oilseeds
60 per cent and in case of cotton it is about 80 per cent. Significant
proportion (66 per cent) of livestock population is also in the rainfed
areas. However, these areas are characterized by low input use and low
yield levels. The yield levels are highly prone to variety of risks. As such,
rainfed agriculture is quite complex and needs to be tackled with a much
more sensitivity and systematic approach. For such areas, diversification
of landuse systems with agroforestry is a necessary strategy for providing
variety of products for meeting requirements of the people, insurance

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Vision 2050

against risks caused by weather aberrations, controlling erosion hazards


and ensuring sustainable production on a long-term basis. Besides,
90 per cent of the forests in the country are performing the critical
functions of protecting fragile watersheds and are not fit for commercial
exploitation (Dhyani et al., 2007).
Agroforestry is playing the greatest role in maintaining the resource
base and increasing overall productivity in the rainfed areas in general
and the arid and semi-arid regions in particular. Agroforestry land
use increases livelihood security and reduces vulnerability to climate
and environmental change. There are ample evidences to show that
the overall (biomass) productivity, soil fertility improvement, soil
conservation, nutrient cycling, microclimate improvement, and carbon
sequestration potential of an agroforestry system is generally greater than
that of an annual system (Dhyani et al., 2009). Agroforestry has an
important role in reducing vulnerability, increasing resilience of farming
systems and buffering households against climate related risks. It also
provides for ecosystem services - water, soil health and biodiversity.
Therefore, agroforestry will be required to contribute substantially to
meet the demands of rising population for food, fruits, fuel wood,
timber, fodder, bio-fuel and bio-energy as well as for its perceived
ecological services (Figure 2).

Fig. 2 Agroforestry as the solution to the challenges faced by agriculture

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Indian Council of Agricultural Research

Table 1. Total Domestic Demand for Various Commodities


Items Present Projected for Projected for Contribution from
2010-11 2025 2050 Agroforestry in 2050
Food grains (million t) 218.20 320.00 457.1 41.14*
Fruits (million t) 71.20 106.00 305.3 47.74*
Fodder (million t) 1061.00 1170.00 1545 154.50
Fuel wood (million t) 308.00 479.00 629 308.00
Timber (million t) 120.00 171.00 347 295.00
Biodiesel (million t) required for 12.94 22.21 37.92 30.34
20% blending of diesel
Area (million ha) required for TBOS 12.32 15.86 21.67 17.34
*Food-grains/fruits production from systematic agroforestry systems viz. agri-silviculture/ agri-horticulture only
considered

In order to meet the requirement of the population in 2050 an


increase by 1.5 times in fodder, two times in food grains and fuel
wood and three times in timber production will be required (Table 1).
Also, to meet the energy requirement from bio-diesel and achieve 20%
blending in diesel, a three-fold increase in production of biodiesel will
be required (Dhyani et al., 2013).
Agroforestry has the potential to provide most or all the ecosystem
services. The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (2005) has categorized
the ecosystem services into provisioning service (e.g., fuel-wood, fodder,
timber, poles etc.), regulating service (hydrological benefits, micro-
climatic modifications), supporting service (nutrient cycling, agro-
biodiversity conservation), and cultural service (recreation, aesthetics).

Agroforestry systems on the boundary of ponds/lakes improve microclimate

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Vision 2050

Apart from fuel wood, fodder, fibre, fruits and medicine, other key
advantages from agroforestry include the following:
• Land rehabilitation and land reclamation.
• Rehabilitation of saline, alkaline and water-logged soils through
bio-drainage by planting suitable species. Surface mined areas
are reclaimed through bioremediation;
• New self-nourishing systems of stand management (e.g. nitrogen-
fixing/fertilizer trees) that mimic the natural ecosystem, where
significant quantities of nitrogen are added via the biological
fixation pathway in the low fertility sites;

Prosopis cineraria, Albizia, Acacia and other fertilizer (N-fixing) trees in


agroforestry help in fertility build up

• Agricultural non-point source pollution (NPSP) is a significant


cause of stream and lake contamination in many parts of the
country. NPSP owing to agricultural intensification constitutes a
major environmental problem, where agricultural chemicals such as
fertilizers, manures, and pesticides continue to add chemical ions
(mainly high NO3 levels and other major anions and cations) in
stream water (Kumar et al., 2012). In addition, runoff from animal
husbandry units, which contain predominantly high levels of organic
compounds, is another source of pollutants. Lateral inflows (water
that is added to the stream due to effluent seepage from ground
water, overland flow, inter-flow, or via small springs and seeps)
transport such solute mass to the streams and rivers. Agroforestry
emerges as a promising option to ameliorate and rehabilitate such
degradation.
• Diversity of products provides opportunities for development of
industries and for creating off-farm employment and marketing
opportunities.

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Indian Council of Agricultural Research

• Environmental services such as climate change mitigation (carbon


sequestration), phytoremediation, watershed protection, amelioration
of problem soils, and biodiversity conservation.
• Integrating trees on the fields act as natural sump for nutrients
from deeper layers of soil, add bio-fertilizer, conserve moisture and
enhance productivity of the system.
Agroforestry systems on arable lands envisage growing of trees
and woody perennials on terrace risers, terrace edges, field bunds, as
intercrops and as alley cropping. Agroforestry practices for non-arable
degraded lands such as bouldery riverbeds, torrents, landslide, shifting
cultivation areas, waterlogged soils, control of desertification, mine
spoil rehabilitation and treatment of saline and alkaline lands have been
developed and demonstrated. The technologies need to be adopted and
disseminated by the concerned departments in affected areas. A long
term comprehensive research program is therefore required, which should
address natural resource management issues, diversification of land
use particularly with agroforestry in the context of changing climate.
Agroforestry land use in conjunction with soil and water conservation
and animal husbandry needs to be emphasized in future. CAFRI
Vision 2050 intends to address these issues in a comprehensive manner
by giving highest priority to farmers and wood/agri-based industries
for uplifting rural economy, mitigating environmental deterioration,
stabilizing productivity and meeting diverse needs of people.

Agroforestry has high potential of C sequestration- Albizia based system


q

10
Operating Environment

Global scenario
Agroforestry is practiced in all continents of the world. A high
percentage of tree cover is found in nearly all continents of the world,
highest being in Central America and southeast Asia. There is now
general agreement about the magnitude and scale of the integration of
trees into agricultural lands and their active management by farmers
and pastoralists. Dixon (1995) estimated a total 585-1215 million ha of
land in Africa, Asia and the Americas under agroforestry, while Nair et
al. (2009) estimated a land area of 1,023 million ha under agroforestry
worldwide. Almost half of the world’s agricultural lands have at least
a 10 per cent tree cover, suggesting that agroforestry, an integrated
system of trees, crops and /or livestock within a managed farm or
agricultural landscape, is widespread (Zomer et al., 2009). Agroforestry
is contributing substantially in economic growth of various countries.
The economic importance of agroforestry can be partly understood by
examining data on the export value of major tree products. FAOSTAT
(2011) shows that conservative estimates of international trade of this
list of tree products was valued at a whopping US$140 billion in 2009.
The actual production levels are much higher, considering that the list
includes only well known and common tree products and that many
tree products in developing countries are not marketed internationally
(e.g. firewood, fodder, medicinal uses) and for products such as fruit,
as much as 90% of production is consumed domestically. In addition,
the positive externalities (or ecosystem services) represented by trees
(e.g. carbon sequestration, nutrient cycling, provision of shade, etc.)
are not counted.
Agroforestry research at the international level is conducted by
the International Centre for Research in Agroforestry (ICRAF), now
named as World Agroforestry Centre, which was started in 1978 at
Nairobi in Kenya. Now it is a CGIAR Consortium Research Centre
with five regional offices located in Cameroon, India, Indonesia, Kenya
and Peru. The Centre’s aim is to increase use of trees in agricultural
landscapes to improve their food security, nutrition, income, health,
shelter, social cohesion, energy resources and environmental sustainability
of small holders.

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Indian Council of Agricultural Research

In India, organized research in agroforestry conducted by National


Agricultural Research & Education System (NARES) and ICFRE
institutions during last more than three decades resulted in development
and demonstration of many agroforestry technologies. But most of them
have not reached to farmers’ field for want of awareness, inadequate
infrastructure and lack of policy support. Small land holdings, grazing
pressure and resource-poor situations constitute other constraints in
this respect. The agroforestry technologies have been successful in the
areas where quality planting material and assured market are available
for example poplar and eucalyptus in Indo-Gangetic region. Similarly,
inclusion of fruit plants such as aonla, guava, ber, bael, citrus etc. as
component of agroforestry in arid and semi-arid region has also been
quite successful.
Fodder trees are playing an important role in reducing the fodder
shortage problem in India. In most parts of our country after the end
of rainy season, animals suffer badly due to lack of protein rich diet
since availability of fodder become scarce. The situation becomes serious
during the dry season under rain-fed conditions, when generally no
crop can be grown, and natural pasture, grasses, and weeds become
unproductive. Farmers either feed their animals with the low-quality
hay of the stored crop residues or they travel long distances to gather
green grasses or fodders. In such circumstance, shrubs and fodder trees
are able to withstand the drought, stay green, and provide a nutritious
fodder for livestock (Dhyani, 2003). Alarming shortages of forage in
our country can be solved partially by planting fodder trees capable
of sustained production of palatable forage high in protein and Total
Digestible Nutrients (TDN). Through the plantation of these species on
degraded lands under silvipasture systems and in farmer’s fields under
various agroforestry systems, fodder availability can be enhanced. Oaks,
Grewia optiva, Celtis austrails in Western Himalaya, and Ficus spp., Alnus
nepalensis and Bauhinia spp., in Eastern Himalayas have been used as
important fodder trees. Lopping of Prosopis cineraria (Khejri) in western
Rajasthan, Albizia lebbeck, A procera, Azadirachta indica in northern
and central India for leaf fodder, use of pods of Acacia niloitca and
Prosopis juliflora for fodder are common practices since old days. Most
of these species are important source of fodder during lean period as
well. Advantages of tree fodder are that trees can be grown on steep,
rocky mountain slopes, in arid, saline, or water-logged soils, and in areas
with severe climatic conditions. Also, trees do not need heavy inputs
of fertilizer, irrigation, labour, pesticides, etc., as are generally needed
to grow conventional fodder crops. Trees use and recycle nutrients that

12
Vision 2050

are beyond the reach of grasses and other herbaceous plants. Trees that
accumulate nitrogen enhance forage quality. Their relative deep root
system can exploit deep moisture resources and, using this and other
strategies, trees are more tolerant to dry periods than pastures.
The success of industrial agroforestry be attributed to short gestation
period, improved planting material, regular and high returns, readily
available market and no restrictions on transportation. Availability of
quality planting material is therefore, one of the major concerns that
needs to be addressed urgently. Understanding of the biophysical issues
related to productivity, water resource sharing, soil fertility and plant
interactions in mixed communities are also inadequate because research
has been mostly observational in nature rather than process oriented.
Methods to value and assess the social, cultural and economic benefits
of agroforestry systems are not available and the socio-economic
processes involved in the success and failure of agroforestry have to be
fully investigated. The successful practices of wasteland reclamation and
poplar-based agroforestry showed that these technologies were widely
adopted when their socio-economic benefits appeared convincing.
Policy on tree felling from agroforestry systems holds the key to
large-scale agroforestry adoption. Industries have taken up poplar,
Eucalyptus, bamboos, Acacia, Casuarina, Ailanthus and teak for
commercial agroforestry due to their great market potential. Genetically
improved clonal planting stock of eucalyptus, poplars and acacias has
transformed the productivity and profitability of plantations. Average
yields from such clonal plantations are 20 to 25 times higher compared
to the average productivity of forests in India. Almost 50 million
plants of improved eucalyptus are being planted every year. However,
indigenous species like shisham, babul, neem, ber, palash in spite of

Aonla based agroforestry system- a boon for rainfed farmers in semi-arid, arid regions

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Indian Council of Agricultural Research

their scattered presence on farmers’ field could not pick up ground on


commercial scale due to long rotation, harvesting and marketing hurdles
and adverse effects on crops particularly under rainfed conditions and
the non-availability of improved material.
Continuous emphasis on tree plantation by government through
various schemes (MGNREGs, RKVY, National Horticulture Mission,
Bamboo Mission, special plantation drive as in Uttar Pradesh etc.) and
watershed program such as IWMP in tandem with available knowledge
on agroforestry from ICAR institutions, SAUs, Private players like
WIMCO, ITC etc. has started bearing fruits and farmers are coming
forward for plantation on private lands.
With the rapid urbanization and economic growth in the country,
farming community have witnessed unprecedented opportunities for
moving beyond subsistence farming to supplying products needed by
urban dwellers. Agroforestry products such as timber, fruit, food, fibre,
fodder, medicine and others are progressively meeting the subsistence
needs of households and providing the platform for greater and sustained
productivity. Now due to change in dietary habits and consumption
patterns, it is estimated that there will be less demand for cereals and
many times more demand for animal products like milk, meat, pulses and
edible oils by 2050. In addition, there will be due emphasis on bio-fuel,
bio-energy, bio-fertilizers, bio-pesticides, bio-remediation, bio-fortification,
bio-industrial watersheds and applications of nano technology to enhance
nutrient and water use efficiency, plant based medicines and increasing
demands for wood for house construction. This requires a matching
reallocation of lands in favour of agroforestry. It is in this context that
agroforestry systems offer opportunities to farmers for diversifying their
income and to increase farm production. Agroforestry can improve soil
fertility, provide fodder, produce tree fruits, expand fuel wood supplies,
and produce a variety of wood products for farmers’ own use and sale
without demanding additional land. Research results from different agro-
climatic regions of the country show that financial returns generated
from agroforestry systems vary greatly but are generally much higher
than returns from continuous unfertilized food crops. The higher returns
associated with agroforestry can translate into improved household
nutrition and health, particularly when women control the income
(NRCAF 2007, 2011). However, monitoring and impact assessment
studies need to pay higher attention to understand how agroforestry
affects household resource allocation, consumption patterns, nutrition
status of household members, and health.
q

14
CAFRI and Agroforestry Network

C entral Agroforestry Research Institute (CAFRI), erstwhile National


Research Centre for Agroforestry (NRCAF) was established at Jhansi
on 8th May, 1988 under the aegis of Indian Council of Agricultural
Research (ICAR), New Delhi to cater to basic, strategic and applied
research needs in the field of Agroforestry. All India Coordinated
Research Project on Agroforestry – a large agroforestry network,
which was operational since April, 1983 was transferred to CAFRI in
1997 with empowerment of Director, CAFRI as Coordinator of the
programme. At present, AICRPAF is running at 27 SAUs, 09 ICAR
Institutes and one ICFRE institute. CAFRI and AICRP on Agroforestry
in the last more than two decades has developed several Agroforestry
systems that have gone to farmer’s field and provided livelihood support
to small and marginal farmers. CAFRI is recognized worldwide for
its research and development capabilities, Agroforestry data-base &
information repository and natural resource management on watershed
basis. The institute conducts basic and strategic research through four
programmes viz. Natural Resource and Environment Management;
System Research; Tree Improvement, Post Harvest and Value Addition,
and HRD, Technology Transfer & Refinement.
CAFRI is striving hard to meet the technological challenges
and gearing up to become global leader in the field of Agroforestry
research and development. By 2050, CAFRI aims to establish itself
as focal organization in dovetailing researchers, farmers, wood-based
industrialists, consumers and other stakeholders. The efforts are in full
swing to develop adoption friendly agroforestry techniques for covering
60 per cent non-arable, non forest lands and 40 per cent arable lands
under Agroforestry system and increase number of trees outside the
forest by at least 50 per cent so that micro-climate mediation is achieved
and degradation of natural resources halted.

Vision
Integration of woody perennials in the farming system to improve
land productivity through natural resource conservation, restoration of
ecological balance, alleviation of poverty and risk mitigation.

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Indian Council of Agricultural Research

Mission
To improve quality of life of people through integration of trees
in farming system.

Focus
To achieve the vision and mission of CAFRI, it gives highest priority
to farmers and wood-based industries for uplifting rural economy,
apprehending deteriorating environment, stabilizing productivity and
meeting diverse needs of people.

Mandate of CAFRI
• To undertake basic and applied research for developing and delivering
technologies based on sustainable agroforestry practices for farms,
marginal land and wastelands in different agroclimatic zones in India.
• To coordinate network research with the State Agricultural
Universities/ICAR Institutes/other related research Institutes for
identifying technologies which can be transferred from one region
to another.
• To provide training in (a) research methodologies and (b) use and
application of technologies developed, at various levels.
• To develop technological packages of different agroforestry practices
for various agroclimatic zones for transfer to farm, field and
wastelands.
• To act as repository of information on the subject.
• To collaborate with relevant national and international agencies for
achieving the mandate.
• To provide consultancy.

Mandate of AICRP on Agroforestry


• Screening and genetic upgrading of different plant species for their
compatibility under different agroforestry systems.
• To study the effect of trees on legumes/trees/suitable orchard species,
while growing mixed with suitable species of grasses and fodder
commercial plants.
• Performance of the local predominant grasses/local crops and
• Refining the technology for proper propagation and management
of the species.

Infrastructure requirement
The ICAR has recently upgraded the NRCAF as Central
Agroforestry Research Institute (CAFRI), which is still developing its

16
Vision 2050

infrastructural facilities. It will require strengthening scientific, technical


and administrative manpower, infrastructure for farm, laboratories
and offices with Regional Centres having all facilities to carry out
research and innovations and to develop location specific agroforestry
technologies.

Human Resource requirement


Trained human resources are needed in agroforestry sector for
targeted growth. Agroforestry sector will need human resources
with higher skills than before to ensure technology generation, its
dissemination to all stakeholders particularly at the grass root level.
Further, agricultural human resources with diverse skills is today
required by a wide ranging and fast expanding wood based industry,
post harvest and value addition of agroforestry products industry, public,
corporate as well as unorganized sector. In general, there is substantial
gap between demand and supply of trained human resources. This is
true for agricultural sector, though the shortfall is likely to be high in
this sector with the implementation of National Agroforestry Policy,
which is aimed to mainstream the trees grown on farms. Agroforestry
with its contribution in carbon sequestration and mitigation of climate
change effects as well as increasing the vegetation cover may become
future engines of growth which would have a bearing on trained human
resource requirements. The thematic areas identified for human resource
training are,
• Geospatial technologies for mapping agroforestry area in the country.
• Digital spectral library for agroforestry systems.
• Valuation of agroforestry based ecological services
• Agroforestry tree products- value addition through post harvest
technologies.
• Carbon sequestration potential and ecosystem services of agroforestry.
• Biofuel R&D- germplasm exchange and technologies for lingo-
cellulosic biomass.
q

17
New Opportunities

T he potential of agroforestry to contribute to sustainable development


has been well recognized world over. The United Framework
Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) increasingly acknowledge it as a
component of climate-smart agriculture. During the 2011 Conference
of the Parties (COP)17 meeting in Durban, agroforestry was frequently
mentioned as having a strong potential for climate change adaptation
and mitigation. Furthermore, National Adaptation Plans of Action
(NAPAs) and Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMAs)
talk of agroforetry as an important component in agriculture sector
actions. In addition, the United Nations Convention to Combat
Desertification (UNCCD) acknowledges agroforestry’s potential to
control desertification and rehabilitation. It is also seen as an important
practice in the ecosystem approach promoted by the Convention on
Biological Diversity (CBD) and contributes to its global Strategy for
Plant Conservation (FAO, 2013).
Agroforestry has high potential for simultaneously satisfying three
important objectives viz., protecting and stabilizing the ecosystems;
producing a high level of output of economic goods; and improving
income and raw materials to rural population. Further, agroforestry is
capable of conserving natural resources under different agro-climatic
regions and only viable option to increase the forest cover of the
country. Agroforestry systems also help in build-up of rhizosphere micro-
organisms. In a scenario of decreasing availability of arable lands for
agriculture, degradation of soil and water resources, increasing pollution
hazards and threats to environment and ecosystem from global warming
and climate change, new approaches in farming systems are needed to
meet food, fodder, fibre, firewood and timber demands of the increasing
population. Of late, shortage of LPG and kerosene, reduced population
of animals/ household is once again forcing rural population towards use
of fuel wood for meeting its energy needs. Agroforestry interventions
i.e., integration of trees, crops and livestock in an already existing land
use system is one option to fulfill fuel wood needs.
In fact, agroforestry has proven as an important tool for crop
diversification. National Agriculture Policy, 2000 recommends agroforestry
for sustainable agriculture and advocates bringing up agroforestry in areas

18
Vision 2050

currently under shifting cultivation. National Forest Policy, 1988 sets


a goal of increasing forest cover on one-third geographical area of the
country. Major Policy initiatives including National Forest Policy 1952,
1988 and the National Agriculture Policy 2000, Task Force on Greening
India- 2001 and National Bamboo Mission-2002 emphasized the role
of agroforestry for efficient nutrient cycling, organic matter addition for
sustainable agriculture and for improving forest cover.
India launched the much-needed National Agroforestry Policy in
2014. The National Agroforestry Policy is a path-breaker in making
agroforestry an instrument for transforming lives of rural farming
population, protecting ecosystem and ensuring food security through
sustainable means. The major highlights of the Policy are: establishment
of Institutional setup at National level to promote Agroforestry under
the mandate of Ministry of Agriculture; simplify regulations related
to harvesting, felling and transportation of trees grown on farmlands;
ensuring security of land tenure and creating a sound base of land
records and data for developing an Market Information System (MIS) for
agroforestry; investing in research, extension and capacity building and
related services; access to quality planting material; institutional credit
and insurance cover to agroforestry practitioners; increased participation
of industries dealing with agroforestry produce; strengthening marketing
information system for tree products.
The current area under agroforestry in India is estimated as 25.32
million hectares (Mha) (Dhyani et al., 2013) or 8.2 per cent of the total
geographical area of the country. There is further scope of increasing the
area under agroforestry in future by another 28.0 Mha. The major share
of the land to be brought under agroforestry will come from fallows,
cultivable fallows, pastures, groves and rehabilitation of problem soils.
Thus, a total of 53.32 Mha (Table 2), representing about 17.5 per cent
of the total reported geographical area (TRGA) of the country, could
Table 2. Land use (million ha) scenario at present and projected for 2050.
Classification 1970* 2010* 2050
1. Forest cover# 63.83 69.63 69.63
2. Net area sown 140.86 140.86 142.60
3. Other uncultivated land (Fallow, pastures, 54.46 55.18 53.44
cultivable waste, misc. tree crops and groves)
4. Not available for cultivation 44.60 40.00 40.00
Reporting area 303.75 305.67 305.67
Agroforestry - 25.32$ 53.00$
*Source: Agricultural Statistics at a Glance, 2010, Directorate of Economics and Statistics, Ministry of
Agriculture, Govt. of India. #Forest Survey of India, State of Forest Report 2009.
$
Dhyani et al., 2013.

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Indian Council of Agricultural Research

potentially be brought under agroforestry in the near future, which will


make agroforestry a major land-use activity, after agriculture (140.86
Mha, 46.08 % of the TRGA) and forestry (69.63 Mha, 22.78% of the
TRGA) in India (Dhyani et al., 2013).
With the increase in area from 25.32 million ha to 53.0 million ha
in next thirty five years, agroforestry will be contributing substantially
in meeting the basic needs of the society through increased production
and providing environmental benefits (Dhyani et al., 2013). In terms of
specific empirical evidence, the area under forest will not change much
in future in view of the developmental needs of the country, though it
has increased by 8.24% from 63.83 million ha to 69.09 million ha in
last 40 years (Table 2). In next 35 years it is expected that there will be
substantial increase in area under tree cover i.e. Tree Outside Forest and
a large portion of it will be devoted to agroforestry. This is possible as
Task Force on Greening India (Planning Commission, 2001) projected
that additional 28 million ha area can be brought under plantation
through agroforestry to meet the national goal of increasing forest
cover on one-third of the total geographical area. For this purpose, 10
million ha of irrigated lands which are suffering from water logging,
salinity and water erosion and another 18 million ha of rainfed lands
have been ear-marked for agroforestry development. A sizeable area
will also be contributed from barren and uncultivable land, permanent
pastures and other grazing land, culturable waste land and fallow land.
In addition, out of the Prime minister’s eight National Mission (NM)
under National Action Plan on Climate Change, agroforestry is likely
to play proactive role in the NM on Greening India, NM on Energy,
NM on Sustainable Agriculture and NM for Sustaining the Himalayan
Ecosystem. Under the National Mission for Greening India a target of
3.0 million ha of degraded lands and fallows are to be brought under

Geo-spatial technologies for area assessment of agroforestry

20
Vision 2050

Poplar based AFS in Indo-gangetic region – a successful model

agro/social forestry. Such climate change mitigation strategies through


agroforestry would also ensure greater synergy with the Convention on
Biological Diversity in view of the ability to maintain high biodiversity.
Tree crop combinations for different edapho-climatic conditions
have been identified for arable lands. Technology for rehabilitation of
degraded lands through silvipasture has been standardized. Bio-fuel
species for energy production have been identified and variability in
germplasm for agroforestry traits and productivity are being studied.
Mass multiplication techniques for quality planting material have been
perfected in number of species, while many more are in pipeline. DNA
finger printing techniques for characterization of promising germplasm
is being attempted. GIS and RS techniques for computing area under
agroforestry system have been developed. The same is being used for
mapping of agroforestry area in different parts of country. A preliminary
estimate of the agroforestry area in India through use of geospatial
technologies has been estimated to be 17.45 million ha (Rizvi et al.,
2014). Agroforestry database has been developed and web-site has been
created. More number of species being added to the data-base. Thus,
frontier technologies are playing their role in agroforestry research.
Agroforestry products particularly wood based were henceforth
either locally being consumed or traded conventionally and market was
highly un-organized. Commercial Agroforestry in tandem with wood
based industries have shown immense potential as they are exempted
from the felling restrictions. Poplar, Eucalyptus, Casuarina, Leucaena
based commercial agroforestry systems could flourish in different regions
of the country when promoted by industries. Similarly, fruit based
industries coupled with food supply chain and creation of infrastructural
facility like refrigerated storage and transport facilities have changed
marketing of fruits, vegetables, medicinal and aromatic plants. Industries
(wood based or crop based) can join hands together to process variety
of products from agroforestry system. Growing awareness towards
valuation of environmental services and carbon trading will provide an

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Indian Council of Agricultural Research

opportunity for more plantations under agroforestry systems on privately


owned lands. There is a vast potential for investments and creation of
employment in agroforestry
sector through involvement
of corporate sector. Bio-fuel,
TBOs and bio-energy are yet
other areas, where industry can
play an important role to meet
the requirements for energy
as well as for employment
generation.
Agroforestry research is
committed to enhance farmer’s
productivity per unit area and
time, bring in self reliance Hydrological monitoring of agroforestry systems
amongst farming community,
enhance returns from limited resources, reduce input cost and
combat changing climate by integrating conventional knowledge and
practices with latest scientific knowledge and tools. The agroforestry
network has large collections of neem, babul, shisham, jatropha and
karanj besides many other
tree species of agroforestry
significance. These are being
evaluated for their integration
in agroforestry system.
Biotechnological tools are
being used to establish genetic
variability in germplasm. Plant
multiplication techniques using
Integration of AF technologies with NRM
conventional methods and in participatory mode ensures livelihood
tissue culture are on the cards opportunities and drought mitigation strategies for
for production of true to the the region
type quality planting material on large scale.
Agroforestry is an important tool to manage natural resources
viz., land, water, vegetation and environment. Watershed projects
implemented by the Institute have shown potential in rainfed areas
and enhanced surface water availability throughout the year, besides
plentiful ground water recharge. Improved soil, water and agroforestry
interventions in Gadkundar-Dabar watershed of Bundelkhand region
enhanced biomass production by three folds besides drought proofing.
Farmers’ income and stability improved and forest wealth saved and

22
Vision 2050

fortified (NRCAF, 2012). Scaling-up of agroforestry based integrated


watershed management in drought prone rainfed areas with enabling
policy and institutional support would promote equity and livelihood
along with strengthening various ecosystem services, while reducing
poverty and building resilience in semi-arid tropics.
Post-harvest losses contribute to 5-25% loss of productivity and
value addition has potential to increase returns by several folds. Due
to un-organized marketing of agricultural produce, farmers often face
glut of production and crashing prices. Many potential crops are not
grown by farmers for want of readily available market. However,
by integrating minor forest products such as natural gums & resins,
lac cultivation, sericulture, apiculture, medicinal and aromatic plants
in agroforestry additional opportunity for earning livelihood can be
created. Value addition in such produces can help farmers in getting
high remuneration. Research and development of value added products,
acceptable to common man, can change agriculture production scenario
and consumer behavior as well.

Tasar sericulture on arjun (Terminalia


arjuna) – a livelihood option

Apiculture provides additional income to farmers


q

23
Goals and Targets

A t present agroforestry meets almost half of the demand of fuel


wood, 2/3 of the small timber, 70-80 per cent wood for plywood,
60 per cent raw material for paper pulp and 9-11 per cent of the green
fodder requirement of livestock, besides meeting the subsistence needs
of households for food, fruit, fibre, medicine, timber etc. However,
ccurrent biomass productivity per unit area and time is less than 2 t
ha-1y-1. Agroforestry practices have demonstrated that this could be safely
enhanced to 10 t ha-1y-1 by carefully selecting tree-crop combinations.
Area under forest is degrading due to tremendous demographic
pressure and infrastructure growth needs, while agricultural area is
almost stable. In India, nearly 120.72 million ha land or 37 per cent
of the total geographical area is under one or the other forms of soil
degradation (e.g., water erosion: 93 million ha, wind erosion: 11 million
ha, salt affected soils: 6.74 million ha, and 16.53 million ha of open
forest area; ICAR, 2010). Up to March 2007, 56.54 million ha area
has been treated under various watershed development programmes,
however a sizeable area is yet to be treated. Trees are known to grow
even in areas polluted by heavy metals and other hazardous industrial
chemicals. In fact, there are trees, which can absorb and tolerate such
pollutants, which not only reduce crop yields but also impair quality
of crop produce. A number of agroforestry tree species e.g. Terminalia
arjuna, Eucalyptus hybrid, Morus alba and Syzygium cummini etc. have
been evaluated and identified for their potential for phytoremediation
(Dhillon et al., 2008). In India, 24.68 million ha area is affected
by chemical pollution. These areas can be brought under cultivation
through biological amelioration. Agroforestry can play vital role in such
endeavours. Meeting diverse needs of people and livestock from limited
land resources is only possible, when Agroforestry becomes common land
use on majority of arable and non-arable lands. This will not only avert
degradation, but also enhance total productivity and restore eco-balance
simultaneously. Agroforestry answers many problems that are faced by
today’s agriculture in terms of stability in production, regular returns,
restoration of fertility, indiscriminate deforestation, drought mitigation
and environmental pollution. Some points which will have bearing on
the ongoing as well future research programmes are highlighted below;
In India, the energy demand is expected to grow at 4.8%. Further in

24
Vision 2050

view of the increasing gap between demand and domestically produced


petroleum, the dependence on import of oil will increase in the near
future. To meet the growing needs of energy in the country, bio-fuel
and bio-energy are being emphasized. Bio-fuels being renewable liquid
fuels are gaining worldwide acceptance as a solution for problems of
environmental degradation, energy security, restricting imports, rural
employment and agricultural economy. The potential tree borne oilseeds
(TBOs) holding promise for biofuel are Jatropha curcas, Pongamia pinnata,
Azadiracta indica, Calophyllum and others, while Simarouba, Madhuca,
Garcinia spp., etc. are good sources of edible oils. In agroforestry system,
TBOs have been intercropped with annual crops such as cowpea, sesame,
sunflower, French bean, blackgram, greengram and groundnut etc. at
various places. In addition, lignocellulosic biomass i.e. plant dry matter
(biomass), in the form of wood fuel, has a long history as a source
of energy. Biomass is a carbon-neutral source of energy: since it comes
from plants, the combustion of lignocellulosic material produces no net
carbon dioxide into the earth’s atmosphere. It is the most abundantly
available raw material on the Earth for the production of bio-fuels,
mainly bio-ethanol. This lignocellulosic biomass can be grouped into
four main categories: agricultural residues (including corn stover and
sugarcane bagasse), dedicated energy crops, wood residues (including
saw mill and paper mill discards), and municipal paper waste. Under
agroforestry systems many tree species are of interest for their ability
to provide high yields of biomass and can be harvested multiple times
each year. These include poplar, leucaena, jatropha and other species. The
promotion of bio fuels could also provide a poverty alleviation option
in the rural areas. Farmers can use fallow, waste and marginally used
land for growing such
trees and benefit from the
annual produce, which
will add to their income.
With the increased green
cover the environment
will also benefit greatly.
The use of oils is also
CO2 neutral, which would
mitigate greenhouse effect.
However, bio-fuel research
is still at the beginning
with respect to genetic
improvement for increasing Jatropha the potential tree borne oilseed for biofuel.

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Indian Council of Agricultural Research

seed and oil yield of TBOs, and this will require concerted efforts from
all quarters (Dhyani et al., 2011).
• In rural areas 70-80% energy comes through biomass from trees
and shrubs. Due to agroforestry initiatives large amount of woods
are now being produced from outside the conventional forestlands.
Small landholdings and marginal farmers, through short rotation
forestry and agroforestry practices are now providing the bulk of
country’s domestically produced wood products. Prosopis juliflora is
the major source of fuel for the boilers of the power generation
plants in Andhra Pradesh. The fuel wood potential of indigenous
(Acacia nilotica, Azadirachta indica, Casuarina equisetifolia, Dalbergia
sissoo, Prosopis cineraria and Ziziphus mauritiana) and exotic (Acacia
auriculiformis, A. tortilis, Eucalyptus camaldulensis and E. tereticornis)
trees revealed that calorific values range from 18.7 to 20.8 MJ kg-1
for indigenous tree species and 17.3 to19.3 MJ kg-1 for exotics.
Species such as Casuarina equisetifolia, Prosopis juliflora, Leuceana
leucocephala and Calliandra calothyrsus have become prominent
due to their potential for providing wood energy at the highest
efficiency, shorter rotation and also their high adaptability to diverse
habitats and climates. Agroforestry plantations on community land
and live fence on farm boundaries have immense potential in this
regards. The option of biomass based power plant where electricity
generation can be aimed from crop/plant residue is yet another
option.
• Success in agroforestry, however will depend upon making available
quality planting material, hence tree improvement and production
of quality planting material should get priority in future as well.
• Capacity building of all stakeholders (producer, processor and
consumer) needs due emphasis.
• Agroforestry extension services are grossly lacking. There is no
dedicated extension support service for agroforestry. Institutions like
KVK should be strengthened for the purpose. Although, agriculture
is the state subject, the concerned state should be pursued to include
agroforestry as a subject in its development and extension agenda.
• Non-timber produce from agroforestry trees like fruit, flower,
honey, gum, resin, silk, raw medicine, etc. are source of income
and health for tribal and other rural people. However, marketing
hurdles for agroforestry produce are altogether different than that of
agriculture. There are state to state variations for felling, harvesting
and transportation of the tree produce and often linked with state
forest laws. In order to facilitate adoption of agroforestry in the

26
Vision 2050

country, there is an urgent need to implement the recommendations


of the recently launched National Agroforestry Policy.
• A major role for agroforestry in near future will be in the domain
of environmental services. This will need the development of
mechanism to reward the rural poor for the environmental services
such as biodiversity conservation, watershed protection and carbon
sequestration that they provide to society. Therefore, strategy
to formulate “ecosystem service pricing” needs urgent attention
as agroforestry systems as such have long gestation period and
majority farmers in India are small to marginal, who need quick
and regular income from any venture. Such a system of “ecosystem
service pricing” will help quick adoption of agroforestry and in
turn conserve natural resources and provide sustained productivity.
This can be done through carbon trading, surface water availability
reward etc.
On the basis of above points, goals/target to be achieved in the
next thirty five years are envisaged as below. To achieve the goals, long
term planning along with adequate funds, suitable extension strategies,
harvest-process technology, development of new products and market
infrastructure and removing legal barriers in felling, transportation and
marketing of agroforestry produce are the key issues.
Goal Approach Performance Measure
Enhance Development and evaluation of agroforestry Number of system developed.
biomass systems for arable and non-arable lands and No. of compatible crops/plants
productivity per problem soils identified.
unit area and Integration of medicinal, aromatic and
time through Increase in biomass productivity.
ornamental plants in agroforestry
agroforestry The national goal to have a minimum of
Study on diversity of pests, pathogens and
interventions one-third of the country under forest or
other microbes and their interactions
tree cover achieved.
Growth and process modeling
Study on structure, biomass and productivity of
agroforestry components
Agroforestry for Agroforestry interventions on watershed scale- Long term impact of identified
environmental Assessment of system productivity agroforestry systems assessed in terms
amelioration, Agroforestry in improvement of ecosystem of employment generation, livelihood
resource services support, conservation of land and water,
conservation, quality of produce and increase in
Effect of microclimate under agroforestry
mitigation of biomass productivity and micro-climate
systems and evaluation for shade tolerance/
climate change improvement.
resilience of crops/ varieties/types/accessions
effects and Agroforestry based climate resilient
management of Development of soil quality index for assessing
soil health and sustainability of agroforestry agriculture promoted.
stresses
systems Improving ecosystem services and
Agroforestry strategies for mitigation of climate increasing farmers’ income (National
change and management of stresses Mission for a Greening India, NAP
2014).

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Indian Council of Agricultural Research

Tree Collection, evaluation, characterization and Improved cultivars/varieties identified


improvement, conservation of germplasm of important and released.
post-harvest & agroforestry species including TBOs Seed orchard of selected agroforestry
value addition Standardization of clonal propagation species established.
techniques and mass multiplication of elite Elite planting material available on mass
planting material scale.
Harvest and post-harvest processing and
Biofuel and bioenergy production
value addition of natural gums, resins etc.
enhanced for coping with climate change
Development and evaluation of livelihood and meeting energy requirement.
options by integrating lac cultivation,
Remunerative livelihood options
apiculture, sericulture etc. in agroforestry
available.
systems.
Agroforestry Information System
available online.
Participatory Promotion for wider technology adoption Adoption of agroforestry in terms of area
development among farmers and other target groups, and density.
of agroforestry feedback and refinement. Number of stakeholders trained or
models, HRD, Capacity building of stakeholders through exposed to agroforestry.
refinement training, workshop, meeting, Kisan Mela etc.
and transfer of Livelihood and employment avenues
Evaluation of adoption pattern of agroforestry enhanced.
technology
interventions
Sufficient raw material for wood based
Trends in marketing of agroforestry products industries available.
and services including market intelligence
An effective market mechanism would
Exchange of material and technology be created for generating income to
through collaborative research programs and growers from agroforestry produce.
networking
Agroforestry product research, new
Agroforestry role in poverty alleviation; women product development, new designs and
empowerment and livelihood support- an quality standards would be evolved for
analysis downstream processing.

28
Strategy to Achieve the
Objectives and the Outputs

T

he roadmap for achieving the objectives and the expected outputs,
outcomes and the beneficiaries are presented here below,
Recurrent Diagnosis and Design (D&D) survey of the different
agro-climatic regions periodically to assess the status of agroforestry
and to further refine the agroforestry technologies based on the
findings of recurrent D & D exercises.
• Molecular characterization and DNA finger printing of germplasm of
important MPTS for application in tree improvement progarmmes.
• State of the art nurseries for producing quality planting material of
important MPTS in different regions.
• Promotion of nitrogen fixing/ fertilizer trees based agroforestry
systems in degraded or low fertility lands for rehabilitation of such
lands.
• Use of geospatial technologies in identifying and assessing the area
under agroforestry in the country.
• Development of digital library of spectral signatures for major
agroforestry systems.
• Assessing potential of agroforestry in carbon sequestration and
mitigating climate change.
• Developing mechanism for the benefit of carbon sequestration
reaching to small holders.
• Screening and evaluation of selected multipurpose trees (MPT)
for higher thermo-tolerance and better Photosystem-II activity for
coping with climate change to increase dry land productivity.
• Standardization, refinement and dissemination of agroforestry based
amelioration technologies for problem soils.
• Genetic improvement of Jatropha curcas, Pongamia pinnata and other
TBOs for maximizing yield, productivity and oil content for biofuel
programme.
• Development, standardization and adoption of agroforestry models
linked with market for enhancing productivity and profitability of
small holding farmers.
• Development of decision support systems for micro level planning.
• Development of an online comprehensive data base on agroforestry
for predicting yield and pricing of agroforestry produce.
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Indian Council of Agricultural Research

• Capacity building of the scientists and technical personals in the field


of carbon trading/ carbon sequestration/ climate change, genome
resource conservation, molecular diagnostics, nano technology,
physiology at cellular level etc.
• Government of India has accorded highest priority to the holistic
and sustainable development of rainfed areas through watershed
development program, therefore for research as well as extension of
technologies, linkages with these programs will be established. In
order to augment funds for technology dissemination, the schemes
such as MGNREGS, RKVY, BGREI (Bringing Green Revolution
to Eastern India- a sub-scheme of RKVY from 2010-11), BRGF,
NFSM and other flagship programs of Govt. of India for agroforestry
development particularly in rainfed areas will also be tapped.
• Integration of rural development schemes, afforestation programme,
rural employment and rural industrialization programme with
agroforestry and linkages with different National Missions and
Programs of national importance are needed. Vast resources of
innovative schemes such as MGNREGS, RKVY, NFSM, NHM, NBM,
Backward Region Grant Fund (BRGF), Compensatory Afforestation
Fund (CAMPA), etc. could be networked for improving productivity,
efficiency, income and employment. MGNRGES has great potential
and vast opportunity for convergence with watershed development
programmes, water resource development and afforestation
programmes and can be extended for agroforestry activities.
• For technology dissemination strong linkages with the network of
KVKs will be established. The approach will be development of
consortium with improved inter-institutional linkages along with
wide stakeholder consultations.

Outputs
• Agroforestry systems with compatible tree-crop combinations
identified for different edaphic and climatic conditions including
degraded lands and problem soils across the agro-ecological zones
of the country.
• Estimation of area under agroforestry in the country.
• Agroforestry land use plans at district level.
• Package of practices for agroforestry systems.
• Tree-crop interactions with respect to insect pest-disease and studies
on micro-organisms for bringing synergy in the system.
• Impact assessment of agroforestry systems on protection of land,
water, environment and socio economic status.

30
Vision 2050

• Estimating carbon sequestration potential of agroforestry systems


and scope of C trading in small holder situation identified.
• High quality germplasm of preferred species including TBOs
will be available. Elite clones and technology will be available to
smallholders for increasing productivity and production.
• Agroforestry product research, new product development, new
designs and quality standards evolved for downstream processing.
• Assessment of long-term impact of agroforestry systems in terms
of employment generation, livelihood support, conservation of land
and water, quality of produce and increase in biomass productivity
and micro-climate improvement.
• On-farm trials and demonstrations providing the feedback from
farmers and other stakeholders to refine the systems.
• Valuation of environmental services of agroforestry for developing
mechanism for payment to the practitioners.
• Well trained man-power available to take forward agroforestry land
use.
• Quantified data available in respect of productivity, profitability and
long term sustainability of the agroforestry systems.
The research output will help in meeting societal goals such as:
• Information on conservation value of tree (species wise, age
wise, edapho-climatic condition wise) will help in pricing for
environmental services offered by trees.
• Tree and crop improvement will further enhance productivity per
unit area and time. Intensive use of land for tree and crop will
generate year round employment in farming sector. This will lead to
social amenity in the country and overall living status will improve
for common men/women.
• Commercial agroforestry in line of that of Poplar, Eucalyptus
and Casuarina can be promoted through PPP model. This will
need facilitation by state governments in establishing food/wood
processing units, minor forest produce, value addition etc.

Outcomes
• Use efficiency of both natural and external resources expected to
be increased by developing and promoting appropriate agroforestry
systems in various agro-climatic conditions for sustainable agriculture
and environmental benefits.
• Poverty alleviation through improved agroforestry systems with
reduced cost of cultivation, judicious use of resources and ensuring
environmental safeguard.

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Indian Council of Agricultural Research

• Enhanced capability and skill of scientific team to carry out


participatory research and to conduct skill oriented trainings for
local manufacturers.
• Information flow between farmer-researcher-industry and between
collaborating Centres for appropriate agroforestry systems.

Beneficiaries and impact


• Self sufficiency in production of timber, NWFP and other forest
products. Forest-based industries will start optimum production
generating employment and reducing import thus benefiting farmers
and wood-industries both.
• High quality germplasm of preferred species will be available. Elite
clones and technology will be available to smallholders for increasing
productivity and production.
• Initiation of full-fledged extension programme on agroforestry on
the lines of agriculture extension.
• An effective market mechanism would be created for generating
income to growers from all agroforest produce.
• Agroforestry product research, new product development, new
designs and quality standards would be evolved for downstream
processing.
• Desired quantity of quality tree fodder will be obtained through
agroforestry for the livestock.
• Bio-fuel and bio-energy production would be encouraged for coping
with climate change and meeting energy requirement.
• Introduction of improved agroforestry technologies will have
profound impact on rain fed agriculture and degraded lands, where
there is great scope for its implementation.
• Agroforestry will act as social fence for protecting the national
forests.
• Intensively cultivated areas with moderate to high technological
assets are expected to be benefited through innovative, need based
and location-specific agroforestry technologies.
• Wood based industries will get the desired quantity of raw materials
and the country will achieve self sufficiency in wood production.
• Widespread adoption of agroforestry technologies will bring
significant environmental benefits and help in mitigation of climate
change effects.
• The country will achieve the desired goal of 33 per cent tree cover
as per the National Forest Policy.
q

32
Way Forward

A groforestry is bound to play a major role by 2050, not only for


its importance in food and livelihood security, but also for its role
in combating the environmental challenges because country’s land area
cannot be stretched. Agroforestry and trees outside forest will be a key
issue in providing a solution to global warming, climate change and
enhancing the per unit productivity of the land and converting degraded
and marginal lands into productive areas. The major focus of research
in the coming years will be on developing agroforestry technologies for
critical areas like arid and semi arid zones and other fragile ecosystems
such as Himalayan region and Coastal eco-system to sustain these areas
for higher productivity and natural resource management. Therefore,
the need is for,
• Development and demonstration for adoption of AF models linked
with market for enhancing productivity and profitability of small
holding farmers.
• Developing AF technologies for critical areas like arid and semi
arid zones and other fragile ecosystems for higher productivity and
natural resource management.
• AFs for mitigation of climate change effects and management of
stresses.
• Demonstration of AF technologies through on farm trials, strategic
alliances with corporate sector and other agencies.
• Developing mechanism for the benefit of carbon sequestration
reaching to small holders.
With appropriate research interventions, adequate investment,
suitable extension strategies and marketing infrastructure, agroforestry
area may increase to 53.0 million ha. This will ensure augmentation and
stabilization of production and productivity, meeting basic needs of the
society, minimize ecological degradations and sustainable management
of land, water and biodiversity. Bio-fuel and biomass based agroforestry
systems in rainfed areas and wastelands will be helpful in meeting the
energy needs as well as for environmental protection. The agroforestry
interventions as such will create opportunities for employment generation
and livelihood support. A major role for agroforestry in near future
will be in the domain of environmental services, such as climate
change mitigation (carbon sequestration), phytoremediation, watershed

33
Indian Council of Agricultural Research

protection, amelioration of NPS, and biodiversity conservation.


However, this will need the development of mechanism to reward the
rural poor for the environmental services that they provide to society
(NRCAF 2007).
q

34
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NOTES
NOTES

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