Despite the BJP-led NDA being in power at the Centre, a majority of the States ruled by the party or the alliance have come a cropper in implementing the Sub-Mission on Agro-forestry (SMAF). Together, they have failed to utilise nearly Rs 400 crore allotted to them this current fiscal for the Sub-Mission that was launched in 2016-17 to encourage tree plantation on farm land. The initiative was titled ‘Har Medh, Par Ped’. On the other hand, buoyed by the forecast of a ‘normal monsoon’, the Centre on Wednesday announced a production target of 283.7 million tonnes for 2018-19 with 140.2 million tonnes for kharif and 142.5 million tonnes for rabi crops.
As per data of Agriculture Ministry, except Gujarat, all BJP ruled States have failed to utilise the funds under SMAF. Gujarat, the only BJP ruled state which has used Rs 308 lakh in the past two years while Rs 411 lakh remained unspent.
BJP ruled States-UP, Meghalaya, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Nagaland have not used their funds under SMAF. The Congress ruled states Karnataka and Punjab have used Rs 289 lakh and Rs 121 lakh respectively.
“During 2017-18, funds to Maharashtra, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Kerala, Odisha, Rajasthan, Meghalaya, Uttar Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Nagaland and Mizoram have been released. So far no progress has been reported by the States.
In 2016-17, funds to eight States including Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Tamil Nadu were given. But only Gujarat, Karnataka and Himachal Pradesh have utilised the funds,” said the agenda note of the National Conference on Agriculture for Kharif Campaign 2018, which was inaugurated by Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh on Wednesday.
SMAF was launched in2016-17 with an aim to improve farmers’ income especially small holdings farmers. Farmers have been growing trees on their farms for generations to maintain healthy soil and secure food supplies and for timber and fuel. But the practice of agroforestry has been declining sharply in India in the past few decades.