Economic Aspect of Social Forestry Programme in Tamil Nadu

K Raja

Introduction

Tamil Nadu is one of the pioneer states that initiated aforestation in community lands. In the early 1960s an afforestation programme was launched on village commons and wastelands outside the reserve forests under the Farm Forestry scheme. In the seventies, in pursuance of the interim recommendation of the National Agricultural Commission other programmes such as Extension Forestry, Mixed Plantation, and Village Forests schemes to develop forests on available lands engaging local people were launched.

Social Forestry Project : Phase - I

The need to intensify social forestry in the state, a Social Forestry Project was launched in 1981 with the assistance of Swedish International Development Authority (SIDA). The first phase of the project as initially envisaged was to run for a five-year period from 1981-82 to 1985-86, involving an outlay of Rs 45 crore. Later it was extended upto 1986-87. Subsequently pending finalisation of the second phase, the project life had been further extended upto 1987-88. SIDA support was to the tune of 70 per cent of the cost. The project contemplated massive afforestation programme to ensure sustainable supply to satisfy local needs of fuel, wood, bamboo, small timber, fodder, grass fruit, oilseeds and other minor forest produce to the rural population.

Social Forestry : Phase - II

Phase - II of the social forestry project in Tamil Nadu had an outlay of Rs 85.40 crore, spanning over a period of five years from 1988-89 to 1992-93. The new components introduced by Phase - II includes interface forestry, community wasteland development, agro forestry in dry lands and tree patta schemes.

The response and involvement of people had been woefully inadequate. But at the same time where the economics of tree was found to be attractive, the people themselves had grown casuarina, cashew and green manure trees on their lands.

The farmers collected their own seeds and hardly ever consulted the forest officials. A problem experienced was that of the banks were not convinced of the profitability or suitability of agro-forestry.

Concluding Remarks

In view of the population explosion, Social Forestry Schemes can hardly hope to satisfy the demand of the rural population for firewood, fodder and other minor forest produce. Therefore, the Government has to give up its narrow approach. Social Forestry must be defined as the establishment of fuel-food-fodder production systems on uncultivable land within and outside the jurisdiction of Forest Department. Such a policy will serve two purposes: it will check the depletion of forests by providing alternative sources of livelihood to persons who presently depend on forest exploitation; and it will also improve the standard of living of the villagers by increasing production on uncultivated and unfrosted lands.