Agroforestry policy to promote cultivation of high-value trees in TN

On Wednesday, Chief Minister MK Stalin unveiled the Tamil Nadu Agroforestry Policy 2026, a policy that will encourage farmers of Tamil Nadu to grow a diverse range of tree species including high value ones such as teak, sandalwood, red sanders, and rosewood. Besides that, it also focuses on making harvesting, marketing timber easier and increasing the state's forest and tree cover to 33% level.

The policy will be benefiting farmers by enabling them to raise their standards of living, promoting adoption of sustainable agroforestry methods, fulfilling the growing demand of timber and wood related products, at the same time enhancing wildlife protection and climate resilience.

A senior official told TNIE that these policy changes are aimed at easing the restrictions on farmers planting and felling valuable tree species.

In fact very harsh laws are currently in place to control the growing, felling, and transporting of valuable trees which are in the Tamil Nadu Hill Areas (Preservation of Trees) Act, 1955, Tamil Nadu Sandalwood Rules, 1967, Tamil Nadu Timber Transit Rules, 1968, Tamil Nadu Sandalwood Possession Rules, 1970, Tamil Nadu Hill Stations (Preservation of Trees) Amendment Act, 1979, and Tamil Nadu Rosewood (Conservation) Act, 1994. These will be relaxed.

“Already, three stakeholder meetings have been conducted to elicit the views of farmers and others, and the policy has been devised based on their views. The relaxation of the rules will be done at the earliest in association with the forest department,” the official said, pointing out that by bringing trees on farms into the mainstream, the policy directly empowers farmers to diversify their income streams, improve soil health, and combat climate change.

The plan is geared towards making sure that the natural environment will have the ability to adapt by encouraging the use of trees that not only improve the overall health of the soil but also effectively save water and be better able to handle changes in climate, all this in line with the targets set for environmental sustainability and integrated growth.

The paper has figured out 5 major restrictions that are adversely impacting the growth of agroforestry in Tamil Nadu: 1. There is a possibility that trees can lower the productivity of crops as they compete for light, water, and nutrients. 2. Certain species of trees can be hosts to pests and diseases that may spread to nearby crops. 3. Besides these, trees can emit known allelopathic substances that can have adverse effects on the other plants in the community. 4. Besides these, crops from tree plantations often take a longer time to mature, resulting in delayed financial returns. 5. Lastly, quick nutrient absorption by trees may lead to lesser fertility of the soil which in turn impacts the productivity of agricultural uses.

To set correct competition between trees and crops, the policy proposes research and development of suitable agroforestry models and species combinations.