The State Government is preparing a draft for Madhya Pradesh Farm Forestry Policy 2015 on the lines of National Farm Forestry Policy 2014. In this regard, seminar was held here today which was presided over by Principal Secretary Forests Deepak Khandekar and conducted by Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Public Forestry Joint Forest Management) Jitendra Agrawal.
Apart from senior officers of Forests, Agriculture and Horticulture departments, representatives of various sectors from all over the country participated in the seminar. Farmers, timber merchants, journalists, political leaders, research scholars and people connected with paper mills put forth important suggestions at the seminar.
In the first session, discussions were held on necessity of farm forestry, strategy to meet goals, possibilities and models of farm forestry and government's scheme to promote farm forestry. In the second session, discussions were held on cutting of trees grown on private lands and existing rules for their transportation. The seminar also discussed bazaar and marketing of farm forestry and strong information system. Farmers and forest-based industries' representatives shared their experiences and gave important suggestions.
Objective of the symposium is to draft such a farm forestry policy through which farmers in the state can earn income even while facing situation of floods or drought. Besides, forest cover in the state also expands, forest-based industries increase, there is carbon absorption through more trees for environmental balance. There is a big gap between supply and demand of timber in both state and country. Farm Forestry Policy will also seek to bridge this gap.