**Summary:**
On June 25, 2025, a workshop titled "Agroforestry for Resilient Rainfed Landscapes" was held at the National Agricultural Science Centre (NASC) Complex in New Delhi. The workshop was a collaborative effort between the National Rainfed Area Authority (NRAA), the Natural Resource Management (NRM) Division of the Department of Agriculture Farmers Welfare (DAFW), and the Revitalising Rainfed Agriculture (RRA) Network.
The event was inaugurated by Shri Devesh Chaturvedi, Secretary, Department of Agriculture Farmers Welfare, with Dr. P.K. Meherda, CEO of NRAA, and domain experts Dr. Susama Sudhishri, Dr. A.K. Mishra, Dr. Pankaj K. Shah, Dr. S.D. Singh, and Dr. Sabyasachi Das participating.
Discussions centered on the role of agroforestry in promoting sustainability within rainfed ecosystems. Technical sessions addressed agroforestry models, community experiences, policy considerations, convergence of government schemes, industry connections, and financial access for farmers.
Key strategic directions identified for advancing agroforestry interventions included: unlocking carbon potential for farmers, enabling whole ecosystem planning beyond trees, institutionalizing convergence through a dedicated working group, reforming unfavorable restrictions through localized legal-ecological integration, and targeting land degradation neutrality through bottom-up planning.
The workshop concluded with a consensus emphasizing the need for collaborative action, supportive policy reforms, enhanced institutional coordination, and knowledge-sharing platforms to facilitate the scaling up of agroforestry practices.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Agriculture Farmers Welfare: The Indian government ministry responsible for agriculture and farmers' welfare.
New Delhi: The location of the workshop, in Delhi, India.
National Rainfed Area Authority (NRAA): An organization involved in organizing the workshop related to rainfed agriculture.
Natural Resource Management (NRM) Division: A division of the Department of Agriculture Farmers Welfare, involved in organizing the workshop.
Department of Agriculture Farmers Welfare (DAFW): An Indian government department involved in organizing the workshop on agroforestry.
Revitalising Rainfed Agriculture (RRA) Network: A network involved in organizing the workshop on agroforestry.
National Agricultural Science Centre (NASC) Complex, New Delhi: The venue of the workshop in New Delhi.
Shri Devesh Chaturvedi: Secretary, Department of Agriculture Farmers Welfare
Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare
“Agroforestry for Resilient Rainfed Landscapes”
Workshop organised in New Delhi
Experts deliberate on agroforestry models,
convergence and community-led planning
Posted On: 25 JUN 2025 8:58PM by PIB Delhi
A one-day workshop on “Agroforestry for Resilient Rainfed Landscapes” was jointly organised by the
National Rainfed Area Authority (NRAA), the Natural Resource Management (NRM) Division of the
Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (DA&FW), and the Revitalising Rainfed Agriculture (RRA)
Network on 25th June 2025 at the National Agricultural Science Centre (NASC) Complex, New Delhi. The
workshop was inaugurated in presence of Shri Devesh Chaturvedi, Secretary, Department of Agriculture &
Farmers Welfare.
Other dignitaries included Dr. P.K. Meherda, CEO, NRAA, and senior domain experts including Dr. Susama
Sudhishri, Thematic Expert – Watershed Development; Dr. A.K. Mishra, Thematic Expert – Water
Management; Dr. Pankaj K. Shah, Director (Agriculture & Horticulture); Dr. S.D. Singh, Senior Technical
Consultant (Agroforestry); and Dr. Sabyasachi Das, National Coordinator, RRA Network.
The participants deliberated on the role of agroforestry in enhancing sustainability in rainfed ecosystems. The
technical sessions covered a range of themes including agroforestry models, community experiences, policy
issues, convergence of government schemes, industry connect, and financial access for farmers.
The following strategic directions were identified as the way forward for scaling agroforestry interventions:
1. Unlock Carbon Potential for Farmers:
2. Enable Whole Ecosystem Planning – Beyond Trees
3. Institutionalise Convergence Through a Dedicated Working Group
4. Reform Unfavourable Restrictions – Localised, Legal-Ecological Integration
5. Target Land Degradation Neutrality Through Bottom-Up PlanningThe workshop concluded with a strong consensus on the need for collaborative action. Scaling up agroforestry
will require supportive policy reforms, improved institutional coordination, and platforms for knowledge-
sharing and innovation.
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PSF/KSR/AR
(Release ID: 2139719)