NITI Aayog Launches GROW Initiative to Transform India's Wastelands

• 14 Feb 2024

On 12^th February, 2024, NITI Aayog unveiled the Greening and Restoration of Wasteland with Agroforestry (GROW) report and portal, aiming to enhance environmental conservation and sustainable land use across India.

Key Points

• Cutting-edge Technologies: Utilizing remote sensing and GIS technologies, the GROW report offers a detailed state-wise and district-wise analysis to support government departments and industries engaged in environmental projects.
• Agroforestry Suitability Index (ASI): The report introduces the ASI for national-level prioritization of agroforestry practices, utilizing thematic datasets to assess suitability across India's districts.
• GROW Portal: The initiative includes the launch of the GROW-Suitability Mapping portal on 'Bhuvan', facilitating access to state and district-level data to promote agroforestry initiatives effectively.
• Potential of Agroforestry: Currently, agroforestry covers 8.65% of India's total geographical area, highlighting the potential for converting underutilized areas, including wastelands, into productive agroforestry zones.
• National Commitments: The GROW initiative aligns with India's commitment to restore 26 million hectares of degraded land by 2030 and establish additional carbon sinks to mitigate climate change.
• Government Priorities: The Union Budget for 2022-23 prioritized the promotion of agroforestry, aligning with India's National Agroforestry Policy of 2014.
• Global Alignments: Agroforestry initiatives in India are in line with global commitments such as the Paris Agreement, Bonn Challenge, UN Sustainable Development Goals, and initiatives like the Doubling Farmers' Income and Green India Mission.