State level workshop on ‘Challenges and Opportunities of Agroforestry in Uttar Pradesh’ held in Lucknow

20 Oct, 2023

Agroforestry plays a crucial role in enhancing food security, promoting biodiversity, and alleviating poverty. The state of Uttar Pradesh (U.P.) is one of India's largest and most densely populated states situated in the Indo-Gangetic Plain with substantial agrarian communities. It grapples with various challenges such as water scarcity, land degradation, and vulnerability to climate aberration. In response to these challenges, successful agroforestry models based on poplar and eucalyptus have been successfully demonstrated in western U.P. To drive a transformative impact on the livelihoods of smallholder farmers in the state, there is a need to introduce location-specific agroforestry systems in other regions of U.P.

In line with these efforts, the Sustainable Management of Forest Ecosystem Services (FES) Project, in collaboration with the Government (GoUP) and the Forest Department (UPFD) of U.P., organised a one-day state level workshop on 20 October 2023. The hon’ble State Minister (Independent Charge), Environment, Forest and Climate Change Department, GoUP, Dr. Arun Kumar Saxena graced the event as the chief guest. The objective of the workshop was to facilitate mutual learning on the current state of agroforestry in U.P., the demonstration of location-specific agroforestry systems, and the market mechanisms to enhance farmers' income. The workshop witnessed participation of over 150 people, including representatives from the Forest Department from across the state, policymakers, research institutions, and farmers.

Key takeaways from the event:

• Agroforestry is set to play a pivotal role in achieving the targets outlined in the National Forest Policy 1988, the State Forest Policy 2017, and also the target of increasing tree cover to 15% of the state's geographical area. In his remarks, the hon’ble Minister also quoted the mantra, "Har khet per medh; har medh per ped," signifying the importance of trees in crop fields.
• The GoUP is planning to develop an ‘Agroforestry and Agroforestry Produce-Based Promotion Policy’ to address various challenges, including the availability of Quality Planting Material (QPM), devising a robust Minimum Support Price (MSP) plan, fostering value addition, facilitating marketing of agroforestry produce, extending financial support, and enhancing cross-sectoral coordination among diverse stakeholders relevant to agroforestry.
• There is a need to demonstrate and disseminate location specific agroforestry models tailored to specific agroecological conditions, integrating the sustainable use of available natural resources.
• Capacity building of all relevant stakeholders, including market players will expedite the widespread adoption of agroforestry practices throughout the state of U.P.

In their concluding remarks, Mr. Sudhir Kumar Sharma, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF), Head of Forest Force (HoFF), and Mr. Anjani Kumar Acharya, PCCF (Wildlife)/ CWW highlighted the importance of agroforestry in diversifying the livelihoods of farmers and increasing tree cover, contributing to climate change mitigation. They also acknowledged the contribution of GIZ India’s FES Project and the overall support from the Indo-German development partnership within the state of U.P.

Chief Guest’s address by Dr. Arun Kumar Saxena, Hon’ble State Minister Environment, Forest and Climate Change Department, GoUP | © GIZ/Jyoti Kashyap

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About the project

Integrating the lessons from HP-FES, a follow-up project on ‘Sustainable Management of Forest Ecosystem Services (FES)’ is being implemented by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, State Forest Departments of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and GIZ India on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). It aims to strengthen forest and agroforest management to integrate the Forest Ecosystem Services approach with a focus on water availability. Read More

For more information contact: biodiv.india@giz.de