Studies at Regional Centre

4. RESEARCH STUDIES

4.1 Documentation/inventorization of formal and informal organisations related to implementation of JFM in the field with a focus on institutional/organizational process in relation to participation of different groups of stakeholders in Assam

Involvement of people in the management of forest is the key principle of joint forest management. The Government of India has adopted JFM as vehicle for implementation of National Afforestation Programme in the country. The objective of NAP is to achieve the target of thirty three percent forest cover as envisaged in National Forest Policy 1988. This is planned to be achieved with the help of line departments, research institutions, universities, financial institutions, NGOs, VAs, socio-political institutions, corporate bodies and informal groups like SHGs, clubs etc which together can be called as formal and informal organizations. This study aims to document and investigate the formal and informal organizations involved in implementation of JFM in Assam and to study the level of participation of these organizations and role-played by them as per rule 7 of The Assam Joint Forest Management Rules, 1998 and to suggest ways for enhancing the participation of these organizations in JFM in Assam.

To begin with, the data and information related to the study were collected from secondary sources after a detailed review of literature. The study involved extensive field survey of sampled FDAs using questionnaires developed for the purpose and interviewing different stakeholders of JFM programme. The field survey and perusal of records showed that JFM in Assam is being successfully implemented with the involvement of local communities and some organisations/institutions. The study has documented a number of formal and informal organizations in Assam which have the potential of being involved in implementation of JFM programme. The involvement of these organisations will further facilitate peoples’ participation in protection, regeneration and management of forests. It was felt that greater coordination between forest department and such organizations/institutions will help in enhancing income generation activity, capacity building, value addition, SHG formation and in making JFMCs more sustainable. The state is promoting eco-tourism, Jatropha plantation, bio-diesel production and remote villages’ electrification through JFMCs by integrating the same with JFM with the help of line departments and various other organizations. It was found that organizations/institutions like Aaranyak, Natures Beckon, Green Village, TERI, Premier Oil, NEDFi, Bongaigaon Polytechnic and Nature’s Foster are extending their help in the development of JFM in Assam. A good number of NGOs are being involved by the forest department in the different projects of JFM including Greening India Scheme.

Based on the findings of the study and interactions with the organizations and forest department officers following recommendations were made for improving the involvement of the formal and informal organizations in JFM. (i) Many organizations are not aware of the objectives and strategies of JFM so there is a need to make the organizations aware about the JFM and each organization should be motivated to join hand in this programme of national importance. (ii) The organizations associating themselves in JFM or helping in achieving the over all objectives of NAP need to be recognized and rewarded with incentives. (iii) The department should have a directory of such organizations with their full biodata and areas of their strength so that the local officials can approach the relevant organization for a particular type of help. (iv) Involvement of line departments can be achieved by making the departmental activities helpful to the line departments we can get their help only if we are ready to help them first. (v) The JFMCs may be federated in clusters and the organizations can be associated through the federations as it may become cumbersome on part of big organizations like national and regional NGOs and institutions to work with individual JFMC often located in remote areas.

4.2 Mapping of vegetation, social and organizational structures, financial and infrastructural facilities in Nagaland for potential forest based business development planning under JFM

The study was undertaken with an aim to find ways for forest based business development under JFM in Nagaland. Accordingly, the study was taken up in three clusters of JFMCs, viz., Mokokchung, Kohima and Mon. The vegetation, NTFP availability, social and organizational structures, financial and infrastructural facilities available in these three clusters have been mapped. The current levels of production in respect of selected NTFPs (bamboos, canes and some medicinal plants) and the current level of income generation from these NTFPs both from raw material and after value addition have been estimated. Future projections of income based on the financial and technological input have also been made. The business development plan has been prepared and the pattern/ modalities of investment and organizational/institutional involvement have been indicated. Based on the proposed business plan, the enhanced demand of these NTFPs has been worked out and plan to meet such increased demand has been formulated. The methodologies adopted for study include a three tier framework comprising of the following:

· Use of latest imageries, FSI base map (2003) to map vegetation

· Ground truth verification following a questionnaire based sample survey of households (head of the household being the respondent) systematically selected from the cluster villages under JFMC.

· Reinforcing the findings through a thorough scan of published information supplemented by detailed discussion with the relevant government officials and NGO members.

The report is structured into five chapters viz., Executive summary; Nagaland- The State Profile and Business Environment; Vegetation Mapping; Forest- Based Business Development and Cluster Based Case Study. The important findings, observations and projections include – High rate of population increase posed as the main factor of unemployment in the state both in rural and urban areas. The contribution of agriculture and forest based employment served as the income generating source; apart from the usually sought after government and secured job opportunities. Industrialization served as an alternative means of income and employment generation, though the nature and structure of industry in the state as per the current scenario restricts the actualization of industrial potential of the state particularly with respect to agricultural and forest based industries. The state has put forth commendable effort by announcing a relatively favourable industrial policy statement with a good number of schemes to augment infrastructural facilities and incentives offered to the potential entrepreneurs. Concerted efforts from various government departments, financial institutions, marketing organizations and training institutions are needed to tap the entrepreneurial talent that exist in the state. The Nagas, who have a rich tradition of art and craft, are adept in making items of daily use which are at par with the day to day used appliances manufactured by various modern industries.

Based on the findings and observations, suggestions have been put forth for forest based business promotion which include: The forest based business transformation from commoditization to commercialization is to be driven and contributed primarily by increasing competition, changing customer preferences, changing in government policy and regulation and technology transfer and integration.

The changes are to be reflected in changes in forest based business ownership, financial deployment, technology economies of scale and scope and similar characteristics. There is a need to achieve tactical balance between demand and supply to achieve certain degree of price stability and to focus on end users to realize the benefits of value addition. There should be greater alignment across production, processing and distribution value chain. Such alignment should have vertically coordinated production system that orients forest production to meet the needs of specific customer markets. The focus should be on the final product or specific product attributes required for the target market rather than the primary commodity. There is a need to pay adequate managerial attention on core activities critical to forest-business –market linkages such as (i) Building effective backward linkages (ii) Conduct and performance of market and marketing institutions and (iii) Demand generation through value addition.