NITI Aayog launches GROW initiative to transform India’s wastelands through agroforestry

NITI Aayog on Monday unveiled the Greening and Restoration of Wasteland with Agroforestry (GROW) report and portal, aiming to bolster efforts in environmental conservation and sustainable land use across India.

Utilizing cutting-edge remote sensing and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technologies, the report offers a comprehensive state-wise and district-wise analysis, providing crucial insights to government departments and industries engaged in greening and restoration projects.

Under the leadership of NITI Aayog, the report employed remote sensing and GIS techniques to evaluate the suitability of agroforestry practices across all districts of India. Additionally, it introduced an Agroforestry Suitability Index (ASI) for national-level prioritization, utilizing thematic datasets.

The GROW initiative includes the launch of the “Greening and Restoration of Wasteland with Agroforestry (GROW)-Suitability Mapping” portal on ‘Bhuvan’ (https://bhuvan-app1.nrsc.gov.in/asi_portal/), ensuring universal access to state and district-level data. This portal is expected to significantly boost the promotion of agroforestry initiatives by government bodies.

Presently, agroforestry covers 8.65% of India’s total geographical area, encompassing approximately 28.42 million hectares. The GROW report emphasizes the immense potential of converting underutilized areas, particularly wastelands, into productive agroforestry zones. This initiative aligns with national commitments to restore 26 million hectares of degraded land by 2030 and establish an additional carbon sink capable of sequestering 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent.

During the launch event, Prof. Ramesh Chand, Member of NITI Aayog, underscored the urgent need to promote agroforestry for three primary reasons: reducing the import of wood and wood products, mitigating climate change through carbon sequestration, and optimizing the use of arable land.

Recognizing the critical role played by agroforestry in providing essential goods and services, the Union Budget of the Government of India for the fiscal year 2022-23 prioritized the promotion of agroforestry and private forestry.

India, as the pioneer of the National Agroforestry Policy in 2014, is committed to enhancing productivity, profitability, and sustainability through agroecological land use systems.

Agroforestry, which integrates trees, crops, and livestock, addresses multifaceted challenges related to food security, nutrition, energy, employment, and environmental conservation. These efforts are in alignment with global commitments such as the Paris Agreement, Bonn Challenge, UN Sustainable Development Goals, United Nations Convention on Combating Desertification (UNCCD), Doubling Farmers’ Income initiative, Green India Mission, among others.