The Workshop on Rural Development Through Integration of Agro Forestry and Wood based Iindustries recommends Constitution of National Agro Forestry Board an autonomous body under the administrative control of Ministry of Environment and Forest. This will help to increase the tree coverage under agro forestry and ensure sustainable supply of raw material to wood based industries which will ultimately result in Rural Development. While concluding the two-day Workshop, Chairman of the Plenary Session Shri J.C.Kala, DGF and Special Secretary to GOI, said all agro forest activities should be carried in such a way that they improve the economic situation of farmers.
The Plenary Session has specified certain tasks which will ensure sustainable supply of raw material to wood based industries which will ultimately result in rural development. It has been suggested to have Policy Interventions to liberalize land ceiling limits, felling and transit of farm-grown wood, review of import of wood to ensure proper price. It also suggests region wise identification of species to be grown under forestry. State Forest Departments should supply genetically superior seedlings. For the benefit of farmers it proposes promotion of CDM and creation of awareness among farmers. Formation of Association of Agro Forestry Farmers so as to provide them a forum to articulate their problems for redressal and other concerns is also one the tasks. Horizontal and vertical integration of wood based industries should be established so that farmers get high returns. Wood based industries should identify villages in its vicinity and develop partnership among agro forestry practitioners and stakeholder organizations as well as farmers. The workshop also suggests to promote research for value addition and income generation to farmers along with Research and Development Institutions to produce value added products.
The two-day Workshop was organized by Indian Plywood Industries Research and Training Institute, (IPIRTI) Ministry of Environment and Forests, Building Material Technology Promotion Council (BMTPC), Ministry of Urban Employment and Poverty Alleviation and Federation of Indian Plywood and Panel Industries (FIPPI).
KP:PM
(Release ID :21294)