(Pics) Agro-forestry hit by lack of policy incentives: President

New Delhi, Feb 10: Development of agro-forestry in India has been hampered by lack of policy incentives, President Pranab Mukherjee said Monday, noting that there was need of innovative models that encourage investment in the sector.

Inaugurating the world congress on agro-forestry here, the president said agro-forestry meets almost half of the total demand of 201 million tonnes of fuel wood in the country.

Agro-forestry generates 450 labour days per hectare annually without negating farm productivity or income, he noted.

"Despite the large spin-offs, agro-forestry can deliver. Its development is hampered by lack of policy incentives, inadequate knowledge dissemination, legal constraints and poor coordination among its beneficiary sectors," the president said.

He said inadequate investment, lack of suitable extension strategies and weak market linkages compound the woes of the sector.

"Rather than being discouraged by long gestation periods normally associated with agro-forestry projects, we need innovative models that encourage investment in this sector. Agro-forestry, as a promising sector, can no longer remain constricted to our tunnel vision," Mukherjee said.

Here are some pics of the Krishi Karman Awards ceremony in the national capital, New Delhi:

In Pics: Krishi Karman Awards ceremony in Delhi

Development of agro-forestry in India has been hampered by lack of policy incentives, President Pranab Mukherjee said.

In Pics: Krishi Karman Awards ceremony in Delhi

President Pranab Mukherjee presents a trophy for Best Performing State on foodgrains production to MP Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan as Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar looks on during the Krishi Karman Award 2012-13 function, in New Delhi on Monday.

In Pics: Krishi Karman Awards ceremony in Delhi

The president said agro-forestry meets almost half of the total demand of 201 million tonnes of fuel wood in the country.

In Pics: Krishi Karman Awards ceremony in Delhi

"Agro-forestry generates 450 labour days per hectare annually without negating farm productivity or income" President noted.

In Pics: Krishi Karman Awards ceremony in Delhi

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan during the Krishi Karman Award 2012-13 in New Delhi on Monday.

In Pics: Krishi Karman Awards ceremony in Delhi

Chief Ministers Shivraj Chouhan(Madhya Pradesh),Naveen Patnaik(Odisha),O.lbobi Singh (Manipur), Nitish Kumar(Bihar) and Mukul Sangma(Meghalaya) listening President Pranab Mukherjee during the Krishi Karman Award 2012-13 , in New Delhi on Monday.

In Pics: Krishi Karman Awards ceremony in Delhi

President Pranab Mukherjee, Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, Environment Minister Veerappa Moily and Chief Minister of Bihar Nitish Kumar during the Krishi Karman Award 2012-13 in New Delhi on Monday.

In Pics: Krishi Karman Awards ceremony in Delhi

President Pranab Mukherjee presents a trophy for Best Performing State on foodgrains production to Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik as Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar and Environment Minister Veerappa Moily look on during the Krishi Karman Award 2012-13 function, in New Delhi on Monday.

OneIndia News

(With agency inputs)