Vigyan Bhavan & Kempinski Ambience
10 - 14 February 2014
Delhi, India
blog
INDRI, HARYANA, INDIA — To anyone else, the patches of poplar and eucalyptus trees that dot the flat, green landscape of Indri are just added greenery. But to farmer Chaudhry Sukhvir Singh, the trees are a fixed deposit.
"The biggest benefit is that I can plant these trees and then earn other income on the side. It’s like money being put in the bank. Anytime I need money for anything, I can cut these down and get my work done," Singh said as he removed weeds near a young sapling.
In a few years, the 500 poplar trees planted on Singh’s property in the northern state of Haryana will eventually earn him $15,000 when they are mature, cut down and sold to local plywood factories.
The farmer is among several hundred who receive support and guidance from the Nairobi-based World Agroforestry Center. The organization promotes sustainable agriculture by encouraging farmers to plant trees that produce fruit, timber, biodiesel and rubber.
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2 People have left comments on this post
It is happening in north-west India where farmers are farming poplar and clonal eucalyptus alongwith agricultural crops. It is known as commercial agro-forestry which produces raw material for the wood-based industries in Yamunanagar (Haryana). This model has led to value addition of tree crops and creating multiplier effect on the economy of this district.
Tree growing is much better than bank deposit for farmers who own lands and doesn’t need in short term.
All small farmers should at least plant trees in 10 % of their land