BHUBANESWAR, 9 July 2025: In a landmark step toward sustainable agriculture and climate resilience, Odisha has become the third Indian state to adopt a dedicated State Agroforestry Policy, joining the ranks of Himachal Pradesh and Haryana. The Odisha State Agroforestry Policy 2025 aims to promote integrated tree-crop farming systems that boost farmer income, improve soil health, and help achieve climate goals.
The policy was developed with the support of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research’s Central Agroforestry Research Institute (ICAR-CAFRI), Jhansi, in collaboration with CIFOR-ICRAF. It is aligned with India’s broader commitments to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), addressing nine of them, including climate action, sustainable land use, and poverty alleviation.
Key Features of the Odisha State Agroforestry Policy 2025:
- Focus on promotion of agroforestry, quality planting material, need assessment, and carbon credit facilitation.
- Establishment of an Agroforestry Science and Policy Council for institutional coordination.
- Technical drafting and vetting supported by ICAR-CAFRI and CIFOR-ICRAF.
Capacity Building and Nursery Accreditation
As part of the implementation roadmap:
- 25 public nurseries in the state have been accredited under the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare’s agroforestry nursery accreditation protocol.
- 28 nursery auditors have been trained by ICAR-CAFRI to monitor and certify nurseries for quality seedling supply and compliance.
Promising agroforestry models, tailored for Odisha’s agro-climatic zones, have been recommended by ICAR-CAFRI and AICRP-Agroforestry, to facilitate rapid field-level adoption.
National Leadership in Climate-Smart Farming
Agroforestry—combining agriculture with tree cultivation—is widely recognized as a nature-based solution to climate change, biodiversity loss, and rural livelihood challenges. Odisha’s move is expected to boost:
Carbon sequestration, supporting India’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement.
Diversified farm income through timber, fodder, fruit, and non-timber forest products.
Soil conservation and water-use efficiency in rainfed and degraded regions.
Dr. Himanshu Pathak, DG of ICAR, congratulated Odisha, stating, “The launch of this policy is a critical milestone in mainstreaming agroforestry into state development plans. Odisha’s commitment will serve as a model for other states to follow.”
The policy’s rollout will also create synergies with the National Agroforestry Policy (2014) and other central schemes like PM Krishi Sinchayee Yojana and National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA).