Japan invests in Indian forestry

Nov 19, 2007, 11:59 GMT

Agartala, Nov 19 (IANS) Japan will continue investing in India to boost the country's forestry sector, besides opening avenues for people whose livelihoods depend on forest-based products, officials said here Monday.

'Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), under the Japan government's Overseas Development Assistance (ODA), had been providing financial assistance to 15 Indian states since 1990 for sustainable management of forest wealth through improvement of the density and quality of forests,' said Keiji Kamiyama, counsellor (economic section) of the Japanese embassy.

Kamiyama was talking to journalists here after the formal launch of JBIC-assisted, Rs.3.66-billion Tripura forest environmental improvement and poverty alleviation project.

State Chief Minister Manik Sarkar flagged off the project Monday.

Tripura is the first northeastern state to receive financial assistance from JBIC in the forestry sector.

'The talks are in a final stage to provide financial assistance to Manipur in the sericulture sector,' Kamiyama added.

The Tripura project is aimed at upgrading degraded forestland, caused by shifting cultivation, into an ecologically and commercially productive forest.

It would also help in bettering the quality of life of locals, especially in tribal-dominated areas.

'The project, to be completed in eight years covering an area of 7,023 sq km and three wildlife sanctuaries, would have a healthy impact on the overall environment,' the chief minister said.

As many as 456 joint forest management committees and 1,250 self-help groups would be involved in implementing the first ever externally aided project in the northeastern state.

Under the project, 16 non-timber forest produce centres would be set up across the state with the help of Oita Prefecture of Japan for creating livelihood options and skill up-gradation of the rural poor.

The JBIC project is also estimated to produce incense sticks worth Rs.20 million and honey processing potentiality of Rs.100 million in the state.

Meanwhile, Germany would provide Rs.1.12 billion while China-based International Tropical Timber Organisation (ITTO) has agreed to provide over $48,114 (Rs.1.9 million) to Tripura for all-round development of forest, forest produce, ecological conservation, setting up of forest-based units and their exploitation in trade and economy.

© 2007 Indo-Asian News Service