JICA to promote agroforestry in Nagaland with Rs 400 cr loan

Farmers dependent on traditional cultivation method in Nagaland are set to get new income options in fuel wood, fruits and non-timber production through a project for which Japanese funding arm JICA has extended Rs 400 crore loan.
JICA has signed an agreement with the Indian government to provide an Official Development Assistance loan of 6,224 million yen (about Rs 400 crore) for Nagaland Forest Management Project.
The project components -- Forestry Interventions and Biodiversity Conservation, Livelihood Improvement and Community Development and Institutional Strengthening -- targets 185 villages in 22 forest ranges in 11 divisions.
The project will cover 80,000 hectares for forestry intervention, a statement by the Japan International Cooperation Agency said today.

It will help reduce dependence on traditional jhum cultivation of leaving land fallow for some years as forest cover in Nagaland has reduced by 78 sq km between 2013 and 2015.
JICA said the project will not only help improve tree density and soil fertility but promote agroforestry as additional income sources.

"It shall contribute in ecological rehabilitation of jhum cultivation areas and poverty alleviation in Nagaland," said Takema Sakamoto, Chief Representative, JICA India Office.
State government's Department of Environment, Forest and Climate Change will execute the project.
The loan agreement was signed between Sakamoto and S Selvakumar, Joint Secretary, Finance Ministry.