Industrial agroforestry development in Tamil Nadu – A decadal analysis

Abstract

Agroforestry has been practiced since time immemorial as a source of livelihood and played a vital role in meeting diverse needs of the people. However, the recent decades have witnessed the transformation of agroforestry as one of the potential options to generate industrial raw material due to policy and legal implications. This resulted in promotion of agroforestry by various organizations and institutions. During this process, it exhibited wide challenges and constraints in the entire Production to Consumption System (PCS). Absence of superior genetic stocks, non availability of quality planting materials, lack of precision technologies and unorganized supply chain are the major challenges faced by tree growing farmers and industries. To resolve these challenges, a value chain model was conceived in 2005 and implemented in association with paper industries. Early successful implementation has further been amplified through a Value chain on Industrial Agroforestry project which
leveraged technology-based Agroforestry promotion. To sustain these activities, Consortium was created in association with all stakeholders involved in the entire PCS in Agroforestry. This institutional mechanism helped to resolve the issues at all level of PCS. It has created a significant impact in terms of productivity (over 25m3/ha/annum) and profitability (over 3:1B:C ratio). The introduction of a price supportive system through contract farming extended assured buyback and market mechanism which not only helped to expand Industrial Agroforestry but also create self-reliance in raw material security. In a holistic analysis, the value chain model on Industrial Agroforestry introduced in 2005 has created over 80,000 ha of organized plantations and leveraged technology based raw material availability and extended greater scope for adoption and replication across the country