(a) whether the Government proposes to promote agro forestry and fruit producing units in
the country, particularly in Maharashtra, West Bengal and Bihar;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the steps taken in this regard; and
(c) if not, the reasons therefor?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE (SHRI KANTI LAL BHURIA)
(a) to (c): The Department of Land Resources is implementing a Central Sector Scheme on
Technology Development Extension and Training for Development of Non-Forest Wastelands
under which pilot projects are sanctioned to various State Agricultural Universities/ICAR
Institutes for testing Agro-Forestry models in different Agro-climatic regions of the country.
Besides, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research is implementing an All India Coordinated
Research Project on Agro-Forestry in the country through the National Research Centre in
Agroforestry located at Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh. Under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme on Macro
Management in Agriculture – Supplementation/Complementation of States` Efforts through
Work Plans assistance is being extended to all the State Governments including Maharashtra,
West Bengal and Bihar to take up diversified farming systems in the arable and non-arable lands
in the identified watersheds in the Rainfed non-arable lands in the identified watersheds in the
Rainfed Areas as well as in the catchments of River Valley Projects and Flood Prone Rivers.
Under this scheme assistance is also being extended for the development of fruits in country.