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LATEST NEWS UPDATES | Tribals take to tree-farming for better returns

Tribals take to tree-farming for better returns

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published Published on Dec 16, 2010   modified Modified on Dec 16, 2010


Non-governmental organisation BAIF Development Research Foundation is encouraging tribal farmers to take up tree-based farming on degraded wasteland around their plots under a unique model of sustainable growth since the beginning of this year. A movie, Wadi', depicting this agri-horti-forestry effort was launched in the city on Wednesday.

To begin with, the model was implemented in the Nashik, Ahmednagar and Thane districts of Maharashtra and in Gujarat, Karnataka and Rajasthan. Around 60,000 tribal families have already adopted this programme in 16 tribal districts of Maharashtra, said Narayan Hegde, trustee, BIAF Pune.

The success of the endeavour has made the ministry of tribal affairs, Government of India, replicate the model in other states.

Vijay V Deshpande, chief programme co-ordinator for Maharashtra, told TOI that tree-based farming or agri-horti-forestry programme is profitable and helps generate increased income, thereby ensuring food security and improved quality of life for tribal families.

The idea was born when BAIF observed that small tribal farmers were ignoring the wasteland around their plots and that they were not interested in planting trees for meeting fodder and fuel-wood needs. This was particularly because of the poor returns and long gestation period of trees. Thus, theNGO studied the profitability of different species of trees that could be grown. It compiled the data and suggested that these farmers grow fruit trees in the main area of the wasteland and fuel-wood and fodder species on field bunds. This also allowed for inter-cropping and promoting other income generation activities.

Hegde said that under this tree-based farming, under-utilised tree species tolerant to harsh agro-climatic conditions can also be planted especially on degraded hilly terrain in the Western Ghats region of Gujarat and Maharashtra. "Trees of high value are identified and under-utilised crops promoted for income generation and environment sustainability."

The programme is funded by the department of tribal development, state government, in Maharashtra. The other areas looked into are complete value chain cultivation that includes micro-finance and marketing of the products. Apart from this, farmers are advised to adopt green manuring, composting, vermicomposting and mulching to improve the soil productivity.

 


The Times of India, 16 December, 2010, http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/Tribals-take-to-tree-farming-for-better-returns/articleshow/7108225.cms


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