Bridging demand and supply gap of forest produce in India with special reference to Assam

Abstract

Forests apart from providing ecological benefits play a pivotal role in development. The demand for forest produce keeps increasing year on year and is met through imports for about 50% (valued at US$ 3.3 billion in 2008). Without imports India is unable to sustain on its domestic production, thus creating a gap between the supply and demand of timber. Given the international hue and cry of conserving natural resources and protecting the environment, future imports of forest produce into India could become scarce and get dearer. This study attempts to explore options that could be sought to bridge this gap and try arrest it from widening through several suggestions and recommendations. The study covers pan India macro perspectives with a special focus on the State of Assam. The Policy Mix Framework (Binning and Young, 2000) and the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) model have been used in the study. Data through questionnaires and other methods have been collected to help analyze and draw conclusions. Amongs tother recommendations a few major recommendations that have emerged include declaring Assam as an organic state, establishing Indian Forestry Plantation Boards and State Forestry Plantation Boards to facilitate Public Private Partnerships, allow private forest plantations under NREGA, regulate forest plantations on a minimum of 20% settled land under the Tribal Rights Act, map and zone wastelands, reclassify and demarcate forest areas into bio-representative zones and production areas, a relaxation in Forest Conservation and Land Ceiling Act, best practices for tree operations and transportation rules, financial and tax incentives to promote forest plantations, club China s Grain for Green program with NREGA, and ban the usage of firewood by all commercial and government establishments.