Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare promotes agroforestry to improve farm incomes and environmental conservation. Agroforestry was promoted under the Sub-Mission on Agroforestry (SMAF) from 2016-17 to 2021-22 and is currently implemented under the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (PMRKVY) since 2023-24. Punjab is also running the State Scheme of Crop diversification through Agro Forestry under Green Punjab Mission since 2022-23. The Department of Forests Wildlife Preservation, Government of Punjab aims to cover about 50,000 Hectare under agroforestry under Japan International Cooperation Agency JICA Project during next 8 years from the year 2026-27 onwards.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **National Agroforestry Promotion:**
* The Government is promoting agroforestry to improve farm incomes and environmental conservation.
* Agroforestry enhances agroecology, improves soil organic carbon, and has high carbon sequestration potential.
* Agroforestry addresses the loss of diversity in agricultural landscapes, helps mitigate pollution, and conserve biodiversity.
* **Sub-Mission on Agroforestry (SMAF) in Punjab (2016-17 to 2021-22):**
* Rs. 10.3595 crore was released to Punjab under SMAF.
* 9,808.32 hectares were covered by planting 54.37 lakh trees.
* **Current Agroforestry Initiatives in Punjab:**
* Punjab is not currently implementing the Agroforestry Component under RKVY.
* The Department of Forests Wildlife Preservation, Govt. of Punjab, is implementing the State Scheme of Crop diversification through Agro Forestry under Green Punjab Mission since 2022-23.
* Approximately 10,130 hectares have been covered under agroforestry from 2022-23 to 2024-25 under the State Scheme.
* **Future Agroforestry Expansion in Punjab:**
* The Department of Forests Wildlife Preservation aims to cover about 50,000 hectares under agroforestry under JICA Project during the next 8 years from 2026-27 onwards.
* The JICA project will focus on environmental sustainability and socioeconomic development.
* Expected outcomes include increased forest and tree cover, improved farmer incomes, enhanced carbon sequestration, and sustainable timber resources.
* **Collaborations:**
* Technical collaboration with Forest Research Institute (F.R.I.) Dehradun and Punjab Agriculture University (P.A.U.), Ludhiana for research on new planting material and pest management.
* A project entrusted to Punjab Remote Sensing Centre, Ludhiana, to map agroforestry plantations in the State.
Impact Analysis:
Farmers in Punjab:
* Impact: Potential to increase income through agroforestry practices. Benefit from financial assistance under the State Scheme of Crop diversification through Agro Forestry. Potential to increase income livelihoods.
* Action Required: Engage with the Department of Forests Wildlife Preservation, Govt. of Punjab to participate in the State Scheme and the upcoming JICA project.
State Government of Punjab (Department of Forests Wildlife Preservation):
* Impact: Responsible for implementing and monitoring the State Scheme of Crop diversification through Agro Forestry under Green Punjab Mission. Accountable for achieving the target of covering 50,000 hectares under agroforestry through the JICA project.
* Action Required: Continue implementing and monitoring the State Scheme. Prepare for the implementation of the JICA project starting in 2026-27. Collaborate with F.R.I. Dehradun and P.A.U., Ludhiana, and Punjab Remote Sensing Centre, Ludhiana.
Research Institutions (F.R.I. Dehradun and P.A.U. Ludhiana):
* Impact: Involved in research to support agroforestry development in Punjab.
* Action Required: Conduct research on new and more productive planting material for agroforestry and pest management.
Punjab Remote Sensing Centre, Ludhiana:
* Impact: Responsible for mapping agroforestry plantations in the State.
* Action Required: Conduct mapping of agroforestry plantations.
Key Entities Referenced
Agroforestry: A land management approach integrating trees and shrubs with crops and/or livestock.
Punjab: A state in India where agroforestry schemes are being implemented.
Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (PMRKVY): A Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Agroforestry being implemented by the Government of India since 2023-24.
Sub-Mission on Agroforestry (SMAF): A scheme under which agroforestry was promoted from 2016-17 to 2021-22.
Department of Forests Wildlife Preservation, Govt. of Punjab: The agency implementing the State Scheme of Crop diversification through Agro Forestry under Green Punjab Mission.
Green Punjab Mission: A State Scheme of Crop diversification through Agro Forestry being implemented by the Department of Forests Wildlife Preservation, Govt. of Punjab since 2022-23.
Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA): An agency that will fund a project to cover 50,000 Hectare under agroforestry in Punjab over the next 8 years.
Forest Research Institute (F.R.I.) Dehradun: An institute providing technical collaboration for research on new planting material for agroforestry and pest management.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE & FARMERS WELFARE
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2545
TO BE ANSWERED ON 5TH AUGUST,2025
PROMOTION OF AGROFORESTRY
2545. SHRI CHARANJIT SINGH CHANNI:
Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ िष एवं िकसान क(cid:670)ाण मं(cid:361)ी be pleased to
state:
(a) whether the Government is actively promoting agroforestry as a means to improve farm incomes and
strengthen environmental conservation, particularly in terms of soil health, carbon sequestration, and
biodiversity;
(b) if so, the details of the national and State-level schemes that are currently operational in Punjab,
including their objectives and scope, the assistance and incentives (financial or technical) provided to
farmers, the total area (in hectares) under agroforestry in Punjab so far, and the agency or authority
responsible for implementation and monitoring;
(c) the target for expansion of agroforestry under these schemes in Punjab over the next five years,
including estimated increases in farmer income and environmental benefits; and
(d) the details of any collaborations with technology partners to support seed quality, pest management,
and real-time growth tracking of agroforestry plantations in Punjab?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
कृ िष एवं िकसान क(cid:670)ाण रा(cid:475) मं(cid:361)ी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)
(a): To promote agroforestry, Government is implementing Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Agroforestry
under Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (PMRKVY) since 2023-24. Before this, Agroforestry
was promoted under Sub-Mission on Agroforestry (SMAF) from 2016-17 to 2021-22 in the country, including
the state of Punjab. Agroforestry enhances agroecology, improves soil organic carbon and has high carbon
sequestration potential. By increasing green cover, agroforestry addresses the loss of diversity in
agricultural landscapes, helping to mitigate pollution and conserve biodiversity.
(b) to (d): Under SMAF, Rs. 10.3595 crore was released to Punjab, covering an area of 9,808.32
hectares by planting 54.37 lakh trees from 2016-17 to 2021-22. Presently State of Punjab is not
implementing Agroforestry Component under RKVY. However, as informed by the State Government, the
Department of Forests & Wildlife Preservation, Govt. of Punjab is implementing the State Scheme of “Crop
diversification through Agro Forestry” under Green Punjab Mission since 2022-23. The objective of the
scheme is to diversify the present agricultural crop cycle of wheat and paddy by promoting agroforestry for
which financial assistance is being provided to farmers. Under this Scheme, an area of approximately 10130
Hectare has been covered under agrofrestry from 2022-23 to 2024-25.
Further, Department of Forests & Wildlife Preservation, Government of Punjab aims to cover about
50,000 Hectare under agroforestry under “Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Project” during
next 8 years from the year 2026-27 onwards.The project will address both environmental sustainability and
socio-economic development. Key expected outcomes include substantial increase in forest and tree cover
through agroforestry interventions, thereby leading to improved income & livelihoods of farmers, enhancing
carbon sequestration and supporting local industries with sustainable timber resources.
State has technical collaboration with Forest Research Institute (F.R.I.) Dehradun and Punjab
Agriculture University (P.A.U.), Ludhiana for research on new and more productive planting material for
agroforestry and pest management. The State has also entrusted a project to Punjab Remote Sensing
Centre, Ludhiana to map agroforestry plantations in the State.
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