Agro-forestry to help farmers

Warangal: Agro-forestry is one such a solution which has potential to sustain farmers' farm production, productivity and income, Warangal Urban District Collector Prashanth Jeevan Patil said.

It may be mentioned here that in order to make agriculture less vulnerable to erratic climatic aberrations, the Central government had formulated National Agro-forestry Policy in 2014.

The aim is to mitigate the climate change effects through microclimate moderation, conservation of natural resources and creation of additional source of income.

"Emphasis should be on intercropping. Farmers can now grow trees in their farmland along with their regular cropping under agro-forestry programme," the Collector said, referring to Srigandham trees and bamboo tissue varieties that provide additional income.

The Horticulture Department will make arrangements to take up plantation of 50,000 Srigandham trees and bamboo tissue by the farmers free of cost, he said. The government will support those small and marginal farmers willing to take up agro-forestry programme through rural employment guarantee scheme. Agro-forestry is a sure bet for farmers to get additional income, the Collector said, referring to the demand for Srigandham and tissue bamboo products.

The government will take necessary steps to distribute Srigandham and bamboo tissue saplings to farmers, Patil said, stating that the initiative is being promoted by rural development, horticulture, agriculture and forest wings. DFP Ramalingam, district agriculture officer Usha Dayal, horticulture officer R Srinivas Rao, agriculture AD Damodar Reddy and DRDO Ramu were among others present.