Wasteland Development: Social And Farm Forestry

During 2007-08, over 2,900 hectares were brought under Social Forestry plantations, taking the cumulative total to 11,969 hectares. The Social Forestry project today covers 26 mandals, 406 villages and 13,492 poor households.

The collaboration with the programmes of the Government of Andhra Pradesh continues to grow. A total of 1,180 hectares was promoted through collaboration with the Indira Kranthi Patham and the Comprehensive Land Development Programme of the State Government.

The households covered under the Social Forestry Programme continue to reap the benefits derived from cut plantations. To date, 1,122 households have harvested their plantations earning a total of Rs 4.36 crores. Significantly, most beneficiaries have ensured that the contribution to the Village Development Fund continues apace, which had grown to Rs 68 lakhs by the close of the financial year. The farmers’ own incomes have been invested wisely into productive assets to ensure a long-term virtuous cycle of development. ITC’s social and farm forestry programmes have to date greened 80,000 hectares of land.

Soil & Moisture Conservation

This programme was designed to assist farmers in identified moisture-stressed districts through soil and moisture conservation works. A total of 648 large and small water harvesting structures were created during 2007-08, taking the total number of structures created so far to 2,178. The total area covered under the watershed programme is 34,979 hectares, covering 33,311 farmers in 7 states.

As a measure of their commitment, the direct beneficiaries contributed as much as Rs 115 lakhs towards these efforts. In addition, the poorer households contributed labour (shramdan) or agricultural produce.

In collaboration with NABARD, ITC will be treating a total of 17,500 hectares in Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Andhra Pradesh.

Impact assessments of the water harvesting structures were conducted in terms of increase in productivity and water availability during 2007-08. There has been a noticeable increase in the productivity of maize, soyabean, wheat and mustard. Measured on a year on year basis, the pre-monsoon water level has increased in all project areas, demonstrating the success of these measures.