Shri Vivek Khandekar, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF), Social Forestry, Pune, visited ICAR–National Institute of Abiotic Stress Management (NIASM), Baramati, to review the progress of the RKVY-funded project titled “Establishment of Timber-Based Agroforestry Demonstration Model for Sustainable Land Use and Livelihood Security”, supported by the Social Forestry Department. Shri Pankaj Kumar Garg, Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF), Social Forestry, Pune, accompanied the PCCF during the visit. The visit was attended by Dr A. K. Singh, Dr K. K. Pal, Dr N. P. Kurade and Dr Rinku Dey, Heads at ICAR–NIASM, along with scientists associated with the project.

Dr Sangram B. Chavan, Senior Scientist and Principal Investigator of the RKVY project, presented the project progress and briefed the delegation on agroforestry research, demonstration and development activities at ICAR–NIASM.

The delegation visited the Agroforestry Demonstration Model and various fruit-based and agroforestry orchards established on degraded land at the Institute. The field visit provided an opportunity to observe different tree-based production systems and their potential for productive utilization of degraded lands, climate resilience, livelihood diversification and environmental restoration.

During the visit, the potential for strengthening collaboration between Social Forestry and ICAR–NIASM for scaling up agroforestry-based interventions was discussed. Shri Vivek Khandekar emphasized the scope for applying suitable agroforestry approaches for the rehabilitation and productive utilization of degraded lands.

Shri Pankaj Kumar Garg appreciated the NABARD-supported Perennial Fodder Bank project being implemented by ICAR–NIASM and noted its potential for wider application. He expressed the interest of the Social Forestry Department in implementing similar perennial fodder bank models on common lands, with the objective of providing farmers and livestock owners with nutritious fodder throughout the year while improving the productivity of common lands.

The visit highlighted opportunities for institutional collaboration, technology demonstration and field-level scaling of agroforestry and perennial fodder systems for sustainable land management and livelihood support in Maharashtra. Dr Amrut Morade, Dr Vijay Kakde and Dr Harisha C. B., Co-PIs associated with the project, played an important role in coordinating and organizing the field visit, along with the Social Forestry team, Baramati.