Development of Agroforestry in Assam

Realizing the importance and role of agroforestry in promoting sustainable development of the most vulnerable communities in the state, the Government of Assam, on 10th December 2021, has also notified the creation of the Assam Agroforestry Development Board as a non-profit company. Thereafter the AADB was registered as a section 8 company under the Companies Act on 22 June 2022.

One of the major focus areas of the government is to stimulate growth in the rural economy as agriculture is the mainstay of the state. Therefore, investment in the agriculture and allied sectors, including agroforestry, will help Assam achieve its ‘vision’ of doubling the farm income and pave the way for rural empowerment in the near future.

Agroforestry has the potential to enhance livelihoods in rural communities by providing a variety of food, fodder, and tree products, which can increase food and nutrition security, generate income, and alleviate poverty in the state.The restoration of degraded landscapes using agroforestry can increase the resilience of our communities to climate risks, including flooding and food shortages. Promotion of agroforestry activities will also help Assam improve the productivity of farming systems, reduce pressure on existing forest resources, meet the raw material requirements of wood-based industries and reduce the import of wood and wood products.

Convergence between the agriculture and forest departments will help the objectives mentioned in India’s National Agroforestry Policy to effectively translate into action.Further, the promotion of agroforestry would contribute to meeting national targets of increasing forest or tree cover, and climate change (Paris Agreement and land degradation neutrality). Expanding the area under agroforestry can help offset India’s total projected emissions by 2050 and help in meeting the nation’s climate change mitigation goals.