Forests are a rich source of fuel, fodder and timber but due to continuous exploitation they are now under heavy pressure.
To minimise this pressure, agroforestry is a vital need of today as by planting trees outside forests, the economy of farmers may be improved and ecological balance in nature may be established, said Forest Research Institute scientists at the start of a five-day specialsied training for the farmers of Bihar on agroforestry and land management.
According to the FRI director Dr PP Bhojvaid, there is a lot of scope for agroforestry in Bihar as the State is rich in basic resources required for agroforestry practices.
If wood based industry like plywood factories are established in the state, there will be opportunities of employment generation and farmers will get proper price of their agroforestry produce.
The matter regarding establishment of wood based industry in Bihar should be taken up with the Government of Bihar, according to the FRI director.
Sponsored by the Bihar Forest Department, 47 farmers from various districts of Bihar are undergoing this specialised training which is part of Hariyali Mission launched by the Bihar Government to increase the forest cover of the State.