Sub-Mission on Agroforestry scheme- Highlights

The Central Silk Board (CSB) under the Ministry of Textiles and the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for a “convergence model” in order to implement the “Agro-forestry in silk sector” under the “Sub-Mission on Agroforestry (SMAF) Scheme”.

Key Points

The MoU was signed in the presence of Union Minister of textile and Women & Child Development, Smriti Irani and the Minister of State for Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Parshottam Rupala. On the occasion, Smriti Irani stated that, India will become self-reliant in silk production within next two years.

Convergence Model

The convergence model in the silk sector will be implemented with the aim of incentivizing the farmers so as to implement the “sericulture-based Agroforestry models”. In this way, the farmers would be contributing to Make in India and Make for World vision of Prime Minister. This model will add another dimension to the agroforestry in order to get the faster returns and support the production of varieties of silks.  The initiative of formalizing the collaboration in the sericulture sector is targeted to increase the size of sericulture host plants like Asan, Arjuna, Som, Soalu, Mulberry, BadaKesseru and Phanat. to be cultivated both as block plantations and border or peripheral plantations on farmlands. The Central Silk Board will be the agency that will promote Agroforestry in silk sector.

Central Silk Board

It is a statutory body which was established under the Ministry of Textile in 1948 by the Act of Parliament.

Sub-Mission on Agroforestry (SMAF) Scheme

The SMAF Scheme was launched in the year 2016-2017. Since then, the scheme is being implemented by the Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare (DAC & FW) in accordance with the recommendation of National Agroforestry Policy 2014. India was the first country that launched this comprehensive policy. The SMAF Scheme is implemented in the states which have liberalized the transit regulation to transport the timber.

Month: Current Affairs - March, 2021