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Performance review under XIIth plan and Annual Plan 2013-14 AGRICULTURE AND ALLIED SECTORS

2.132 The total approved outlay during XIIth plan under forestry sector was ` 815 crore which
accounts 0.80% of the total state plan outlay. The actual amount budgeted during the Ist 3 years was
` 424.29 crore and the expenditure reported upto 30/9/2014 is ` 229.59 crore. The total expenditure
under state plan schemes during 2013-14 was ` 98.01 crore which accounts 61% of the state plan
outlay. It includes forest protection with an expenditure of ` 20.94 crore, strengthening bio-diversity
conservation and management of protected area with ` 21.95 crore, strengthening of infrastructure
facilities with ` 6.83 crore for roads and buildings, improving productivity of Plantation with ` 8.55
crore and extension forestry with ` 8.71 crore. Under central sector schemes the expenditure reported
was 49 percent of the budgeted outlay. The reason for shortfall in expenditure reported was the
expenditure limited to the GoI release. The outlay and expenditure for various schemes implemented
in the Forestry sector is shown in Appendix 2.67. The major physical achievements during 2013-
14 were distribution of seedlings/plants under Harithakeralam and Vazhiyora Thanal programme is
83.83 lakh, construction of cairns 2587 numbers, construction of kayyalas 7.97 Km, construction
of fire line 4101 Km, regeneration denuded forest 36 ha , plantation raised 559 ha, improvement of
forest roads 325 Km and launching the project Suvarnodhyanam at Nedumbasseri in 4 ha area.

Key initiatives during 2013-14

2.133 Key initiatives of the department during 2013-14 are establishment of Zoological Park in
Puthur, Thrissur District, establishing orchidarium at Vagamon in Idukki District, setting up elephant
care centre at Kottur & Kappukode in Thiruvananthapuram district, long term monitoring programme
for Periyar Tiger Reserve, Vanadeepthi programme, conservation of mangroves and sacred groves,
Extension of forestry (Rural and urban), Survey & diversification of forest boundaries, 700 post of
tribal watchers were created for Forest protection, establishing modern wildlife interpretation cum
information centre at Thekkady, mitigating man-animal conflict in South Wayanad division, eco-
tourism projects at Adavi in Konni division and at Shendurney in Shendurney wildlife division,
facilitating water availability through checkdams, voluntary relocation of human settlements with in
forest areas, online reservation of accommodation at eco-tourism centres, e-payment system, online
issuance of NOC for wood based industries and property mark registration and renewal etc.

Management of Non -Wood Forest Produce (NWFP)

2.134 The quantities of bamboo and reed annually harvested are at a level of 40-50 thousand
tonnes of bamboo and 80-100 thousand tonnes of reeds. The productivity and management of
NWFPs are to be improved through sustainable and scientific management by adopting improved
methods of harvesting, processing, value addition and marketing. Under the scheme Management
of NWFPs, new NWFP species were planted at an area of 16 ha. Also maintenance of NWFP
plantations of different species was done at an area of 255 ha. A new brand for value added products
of NWFP known as “Vanasree” was developed and 22 sales outlets of vanasree products were
established in the State.

Afforestation Outside Forest Area

2.135 The objective of the programme is to increase tree cover in non-forest areas to achieve the
ideal target of 33.3 percent of forest cover. The department have embarked on massive afforestation
programme outside forest areas since 2007 with novel ideas. The massive afforestation programme
launched outside the forest areas are ‘Entemaram programme, ‘Nammude maram programme,
Vazhiyora thanal programme, Haritha theeram programme and Haritha keralam programme’. The
total number of seedlings distributed/planted under the various programmes upto 31-03.2014 is

Economic Review 2014