As part of its Vasudha Initiative targeting climate change interventions in Northeast India, APRINS convened a high-level Round Table Discussion themed “Agro Forestry Road Map – The Gaps and the Way Ahead for NE India” on 6th June 2026. The half-day event brought together leading experts from TERI, GIZ India, NRLM–NIRDPR, and UNDP–GEF Small Grants Programme for a focused policy-oriented dialogue. Farmers and management members of Farmer Producer Companies (FPCs) from across Northeast India participated actively through online mode.
Ms. Urmi Mala Mahanta, Secretary, APRINS, welcomed the distinguished guests and online participants.
Mr. T. E. Rassull, Director, APRINS, moderated the Round Table while Mr. Chandan Borthakur, Managing Director, APRINS, delivered the opening remarks, highlighting the organisation’s commitment to ecological restoration and sustainable livelihoods.
During the discussion, Dr. Naba Kumar Goswami, Associate Director, TERI – North East & Himalayan Centre, shared rich field experiences from TERI-led interventions in agroforestry across Northeast India and the Himalayan region. He highlighted critical ecosystem components, existing gaps, and pathways to link scientific knowledge with farmer practice.
Dr. Jeherul Islam, State Coordinator for NE States, GIZ India, elaborated on GIZ-led initiatives with special focus on the aquaculture sector and presented global examples of integrating sustainable aquaculture with agroforestry landscapes.
Mr. A. Mannan Choudhury, National Resource Person, NRLM–NIRDPR, drew on his extensive experience in Bihar, Jharkhand and other states to share insights from a successful pilot project that created measurable agroforestry impact over the years, stressing the importance of community institution building.
Ms. Sounika Karmakar, Regional Coordinator – NE Region, SGP India (TERI) / UNDP–GEF, emphasised the critical role of community-driven intervention models based on her experience with the UNDP Small Grants Programme, underlining that farmer agency must be central to any successful agroforestry roadmap.
The Round Table deliberated on key ecosystem linkages in Northeast India’s agroforestry landscapes, major adoption gaps, practical farmer-centric solutions, and convergence opportunities across relevant government schemes and international programmes.
As part of World Environment Day celebrations, APRINS organised a large-scale plantation drive across its FPC network in Northeast India on 5th June 2026, translating policy dialogue into immediate on-ground ecological action.