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HomePosts Tagged "agroforestry"
AgroPolicy, Agrotech, Digital Technologies, Environment, India, Nature

NITI Aayog utilised remote sensing and GIS to assess agroforestry suitability across all districts in India.

Greening and Restoration of Wasteland with Agroforestry (GROW) report and portal was launched by Prof Ramesh Chand, Member, NITI Aayog at NITI Aayog. This multi-institutional effort led by NITI Aayog utilised remote sensing and GIS to assess agroforestry suitability across all districts in India. Using thematic datasets, an Agroforestry Suitability Index (ASI) was developed for national-level prioritization. The report provides state-wise and district-wise analysis, supporting government departments and industries for greening and restoration projects.

The “Greening and Restoration of Wasteland with Agroforestry (GROW)-Suitability Mapping” portal Bhuvan https://bhuvan-app1.nrsc.gov.in/asi_portal/ allows universal access to state and district-level data. Currently, agroforestry covers 8.65 per cent of India’s total geographical area, totalling about 28.42 million hectares. Current report underscores the potential benefits of converting underutilized areas, especially wastelands, for agroforestry. The GROW initiative aligns with national commitments, aiming to restore 26 million hectares of degraded land by 2030 and create an additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent.

During the release, Prof Ramesh Chand, Member, NITI Aayog shared that there is need for promotion of agroforestry esp. for 3 thing i.e reducing import of wood and wood products, carbon sequestration to combat climate change at global and national level and addressing sub-optimal use of arable land.  It was shared fallow land and culturable wastelands can be converted to productive use through agroforestry. He said that this project will reap long term benefits and promote use of space technology in agriculture.

During the panel discussion, Dr SK Chaudhari shared that the portal will be helpful in different programmes as the Government of India is working to promote agroforestry and sensitizing role of extension. Panellists joining the session to scale-up agroforestry in greening and restoration were Dr A Arunachalam, Director, ICAR-Central Agroforestry Research Institute Jhansi, Dr. R Ravi Babu, GM, FSDD, NABARD, Dr Ravi Prabhu, Director Innovation, Investment and Impact CIFOR-ICRAF and Dr Rajiv Kumar, Group Head, RSA, NRSC, Hyderabad.

Due to the significance of goods and services provided by agroforestry, the Union Budget of Government of India (FY-2022-23) has underlined the promotion of agroforestry and private forestry as a priority. India, the seventh-largest country globally, faces issues like increased build-up areas, degraded land, and imbalanced resources. Approximately 16.96 per cent of the Total Geographical Area (TGA) is wasteland, requiring transformation for productive use. Geospatial technologies and GIS are employed to map and prioritize these wastelands for agroforestry interventions.

NITI Aayog utilised remote sensing and GIS

Agro Universities, India

The primary objective of the workshop was to formulate a comprehensive roadmap or guideline document for assessing the pivotal role of forestry and agroforestry-based strategies in supporting national Net Zero Goals

The Department of Humanities and Social Sciences of BITS Pilani Goa, in partnership with the IUCN CEM Forest Specialist Group, CEM South Asia, the Goa State Biodiversity Board, and CEEW, New Delhi has successfully hosted a One-day International Consultative Workshop titled ” ‘Role Of Forestry, Agroforestry, And Land Restoration in Achieving Net Zero in the Asian Region’.

The primary objective of the workshop was to formulate a comprehensive roadmap or guideline document for assessing the pivotal role of forestry and agroforestry-based strategies in supporting national Net Zero Goals. Furthermore, the workshop aimed to identify challenges, hurdles, and roadblocks hindering the realisation of mitigation potential from these sectors. It also sought to foster collaboration and partnerships among various organizations in Asia dedicated to these sectors.

The event saw participation from distinguished guests like Professor Mohan Kumar B, Former Vice Chancellor of Arunachal University and one of the authors of the National Agroforestry Policy, and Prof. Amit Garg, Professor, of the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad. The event also witnessed the participation of Namgyel Wangdi, Senior Programme Officer of Bhutan Ecological Society, as a speaker. Wangdi shared insightful perspectives on Bhutan’s remarkable success in attaining the Net Zero goal, emphasizing the significant contribution of the forest sector. The workshop welcomed the Chief Wildlife warden of the State of Goa Umakant and Dr Pradip V Sarmokdam, Nodal Officer, Climate Change, State of Goa. Additionally, the workshop welcomed Anindya Bhattacharya, Celestial Earth, the agency entrusted with formulating the Net Zero Strategy for the state of Goa.

The primary objective of the workshop was

Acquaculture, Agro Universities, Agrotech, Horticulture, Poultry

The Governor of Kenya Khaemba hailed the evolution of PAU and its significant role in improving the agri-assets

A three-member delegation comprising Patrick Khaemba, Governor of Kenya; Lydia Seroney, wife of Khaemba; and Mary Nzomo, Minister of Agriculture, Kenya visited Punjab Agricultural University (Pday to deliberate upon mutual areas of cooperation. The visiting delegation interacted with the senior officials of PAU, deans of constituent colleges, additional directors of research and extension education, and heads of various departments of the university. The delegation was accompanied by Dr Parvinder Singh, Vice-Chancellor, Rayat Bahra University, Punjab and GS Bahra.

Dr AS Dhatt, Director of Research, while giving a presentation on PAU and Green Revolution said, “Having outstanding human resources and exemplary linkage with the farming community, the university has played a remarkable role in the development of agriculture in Punjab as well as India.”

“Presently, the focus is on developing varieties for enhancing crop productivity and quality, having tolerance to abiotic and biotic stresses, conservation of soil and water, and crop residue management,” he added. Dr Dhatt suggested collaborating in the areas of field crops (wheat, rice, maize, cotton and sugarcane), horticulture, food technology, apiculture, agro-forestry, water use efficiency and farm machinery.

The Governor of Kenya Khaemba hailed the evolution of PAU and its significant role in improving the agri-assets. Stating that Kenya was good at developing poultry, he said, “It is turning about democracy and people.”

Appreciating the close linkage of PAU with farmers of Punjab, he remarked: “We need to think of farmers and how to motivate them to take up new technologies.”

“Kenya would like to assist PAU in agricultural issues being faced in Punjab. We should jointly work in those areas which are following the governmental rules of both the nations,” said the Governor.

The Agriculture Minister of Kenya Nzomo said that Punjab and Kenyan agriculture had many similarities. “Both being rice-wheat producers, we would like to focus on food and nutrition as well as food diversification such as cereals and pulses,” she stated while evincing interest in the area of extension also and lauding PAU’s skill development training.

The Governor of Kenya Khaemba hailed the