Sub-Mission on Agroforestry (SMAF) is the Government of India’s dedicated farm-forestry window — trees on the medh (bund), not only in the reserved forest. It was launched in 2016–17 under the National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) with the slogan “Har Medh Par Ped” (a tree on every bund), after the National Agroforestry Policy, 2014 (India was the first country to notify a national agroforestry policy).
It is an established scheme, not a 2024 start-up mission. From 2021–22 / 2023–24 the standalone CSS was wound into PM–Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (PM-RKVY) as the Agroforestry component, with a sharper focus on certified Quality Planting Material (QPM) — nurseries, tissue-culture labs, clones and certified seedlings — rather than only paying a farmer per sapling on the bund.
PIB (8 August 2023) fixed the indicative GoI share at ₹271.65 crore for the 15th Finance Commission period (2021–22 to 2025–26). Technical nodal agency: ICAR–Central Agroforestry Research Institute (CAFRI), Jhansi, through its AICRP on Agroforestry centres.
Do not confuse SMAF with SMAM. SMAF = agroforestry / trees on farms. SMAM = Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (tractors, implements, agrimachinery.nic.in). Google mixes them constantly.
Wiki / Quick Facts
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Full name | Sub-Mission on Agroforestry |
| Short name | SMAF |
| Hindi / slogan | कृषिवानिकी उप-मिशन · हर मेढ़ पर पेड़ |
| Type | Established Centrally Sponsored scheme; restructured as Agroforestry component of PM-RKVY |
| Parent (2016–17 to ~2021–22) | NMSA, DA&FW |
| Parent (from 2021–22 / operational 2023–24) | PM–RKVY (RKVY SLSC / AAP) |
| Policy root | National Agroforestry Policy, 2014 |
| Ministry | Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare |
| Department | Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare |
| Technical nodal | ICAR–CAFRI, Jhansi (ex-NRCAF, est. 8 May 1988) |
| Launch | 2016–17 |
| Restructure announced | Parliament / PIB August 2023; RKVY operational guidelines for agroforestry |
| 15th FC GoI outlay | ₹271.65 crore (indicative, 2021–22 to 2025–26) |
| Funding pattern (classic SMAF) | 60:40 Centre:State · 90:10 NE & Himalayan · 100% UTs & national agencies |
| Old farmer grant | Typically ~50% of plantation cost, often DBT against surviving plants (state-specific) |
| New RKVY focus | Nurseries + QPM (small / medium / hi-tech + tissue culture) |
| Eligibility gate (classic) | State must have liberalised felling & transit for notified agroforestry species on private land |
| States / UTs (classic SMAF) | About 20–21 states + J&K, Ladakh (list below) |
| Social earmark | ≥50% small & marginal; of which 30% women; SC 16% / ST 8% or district population share |
| QPM free? | Raised under the scheme to farmers/SHGs free or at state-decided price |
| Guidelines PDF | Operational Guidelines of Agroforestry under RKVY |
| CAFRI | cafri.icar.gov.in / cafri.res.in |
What agroforestry means here
Not a forest department plantation. Trees + crops and/or livestock on the same farm — bund planting, alley cropping, silvi-pasture, homegarden, poplar/eucalyptus block with intercrop, fruit + timber mix.
Typical species (state lists / CAFRI–ICRAF QPM guide): Melia dubia, poplar, eucalyptus, teak, shisham, casuarina, subabul, neem, aonla, bamboo, sandal (where legal), Grewia, Gmelina, Acacia, Albizia. Short-, medium- and long-rotation so cash comes in waves, not only at year 15.
India already draws a large share of industrial timber and fuelwood from trees outside forests (ToF). SMAF was meant to make that legal, certified and bankable — which is why felling/transit liberalisation was a pre-condition, not a footnote.
History
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 8 May 1988 | NRCAF (now CAFRI) set up at Jhansi |
| 2014 | National Agroforestry Policy — first in the world |
| 2016–17 | SMAF launched under NMSA; motto Har Medh Par Ped; RE about ₹50 crore in year one |
| 2016–18 | Many states sat on releases (one 2018 report: only ~13% of ₹65.18 crore utilised over two years) — transit-rule politics + slow nurseries |
| ~20–21 states + 2 UTs | Joined after relaxing felling/transit for selected species |
| 2021–22 | SMAF period aligned to 15th FC; standalone CSS begins folding into RKVY |
| 2023–24 | Restructured Agroforestry component under RKVY — QPM-first; PIB 8 Aug 2023: ₹271.65 crore GoI |
| 2024–26 | States put agroforestry nurseries / QPM in RKVY AAPs; CAFRI + AICRP certify and train |
Two lives of the same scheme (write both)
A. Classic SMAF (2016–17 onward) — trees on the farmer’s field
- Plant MPTs on bunds / alleys / blocks with crops and livestock.
- ~50% cost subsidy on planting + protection (state cost norms); often survival-linked DBT.
- Only in states that de-notified selected species from harsh forest felling/transit rules.
- FPOs, co-ops, SHGs eligible; 50% funds for small/marginal; women / SC/ST earmarks.
- Early utilisation was weak in several large states — a documented implementation scar, not gossip.
B. Restructured RKVY Agroforestry (from 2021–22 design; live 2023–24) — QPM factories
PIB / RKVY guideline components:
- Nurseries for QPM (new small, medium, hi-tech)
- Tissue-culture labs
- Skill & awareness (up to 5% of allocation)
- R&D and market linking (timber, plywood, match, biofuel, lac, silk, wellness, handicrafts, construction)
- PMU + Agroforestry Technical Support Group (TSG) — CAFRI-led
- Local initiative (up to 2% of approved AAP)
Illustrative nursery assistance (widely cited RKVY agroforestry explainers — confirm in your State AAP):
| Unit | Indicative assistance | Pattern |
|---|---|---|
| Small nursery (0.5 ha) | ₹10 lakh | 100% government agency / 50% private |
| Strengthen existing nursery | ₹20 lakh | same |
| New hi-tech / large unit | up to ₹200 lakh | same |
QPM so produced goes to farmers/SHGs free or cheap, as the State decides. This is why a 2026 farmer Googling “SMAF ₹ per plant” may find nothing new — the money moved upstream to the nursery.
Objectives (both eras)
- More trees on farmland, complementary to crops and cattle — income, jobs, climate buffer.
- QPM — seed, seedling, clone, hybrid, improved variety — not random roadside stock.
- Popularise zone-specific models (CAFRI / AICRP / ICRAF).
- Database, extension, capacity building.
- Market links for timber and NTFP; value addition / collection centres.
- Modern M&E (geo-tag, survival).
- After 2023: certified nursery industry as the bottleneck-breaker.
Who can apply
| Who | Classic SMAF (plantation) | RKVY QPM (nursery) |
|---|---|---|
| Individual farmer with land / valid lease | Yes, in notified states | Usually via state supply, not a nursery grant |
| Small & marginal, women, SC/ST | Priority / earmark | Same social rules in AAP |
| SHG / FPO / co-op | Yes | Yes — can run a nursery |
| SAU, KVK, forest/agri institute | Partners | Yes |
| Private entrepreneur / start-up | Limited | Yes (typically 50% of nursery cost) |
| State nodal dept / corporation | Implementer | 100% for government nurseries |
Hard gate (classic): your State must have liberalised felling & transit for the species you plant. If teak on private land still needs a forest “felling permit maze”, SMAF historically would not open.
Documents (typical): Aadhaar, land/lease, bank, photos; for nurseries — registration, site, project report, quotations.
How it is run
- State Nodal Department (Agriculture / Horticulture / sometimes Forest–farm-forestry cell) puts an Agroforestry / QPM line in the RKVY Annual Action Plan.
- SLSC sanctions.
- CAFRI + AICRP centres — models, nursery protocols, QPM certification, training.
- Plants reach farmers through state nurseries, KVKs, FPOs, SHGs.
- Convergence: RAD (IFS already wants trees), NMNF (desi biomass), MIDH (fruit), NAPCC / Green India, state farm-forestry bonuses (Punjab, Karnataka KAPY, etc.).
There is no single national “SMAF apply” app like SMAM’s machinery portal.
Progress, praise, scars
Why it still matters: extra income (fruit, fodder, timber, carbon story), micro-climate, soil, a hedge when the crop fails, domestic timber vs imports.
Why uptake lagged:
- Felling/transit fear — farmers will not plant what they cannot legally harvest.
- Long gestation vs fertiliser subsidy (commentators still say RKVY “other components” crowd out trees).
- 2016–18 utilisation collapse in several states (unspent crores).
- After restructure, the per-plant DBT story faded; nursery entrepreneurs and departments became the real applicants.
2026 lens: SMAF-under-RKVY is alive but quiet — a QPM / nursery scheme wearing an old farmer-slogan. Pair it in copy with RAD (needs trees in the IFS) and state ToF bonuses.
SMAF vs SMAM vs RAD vs NMNF
| SMAF | SMAM | RAD | NMNF | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full form | Sub-Mission on Agroforestry | Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization | Rainfed Area Development | National Mission on Natural Farming |
| Object | Trees on farms / QPM | Tractors & implements | Rainfed IFS | Chemical-free NF |
| Portal people search | None dedicated | agrimachinery.nic.in | nmsa.dac.gov.in | naturalfarming.dac.gov.in |
| Home now | PM-RKVY | Own / Krishionnati | PM-RKVY | Standalone CSS 2024 |
Interesting facts
- India wrote the world’s first national agroforestry policy (2014); SMAF is that policy’s cheque-book.
- Slogan Har Medh Par Ped is still the best SEO line.
- Transit-rule reform was a condition, not a side quest.
- CAFRI, Jhansi is the only ICAR institute solely for agroforestry.
- Restructure moved money from the bund to the nursery — QPM was the diagnosed failure point.
- ₹271.65 crore / 5 years is modest next to fertiliser or PM-KISAN.
- Poplar in the north-west and eucalyptus / casuarina belts are the living proof of ToF timber.
- Bamboo on private land was separately de-notified — often rides with SMAF species lists.
- Early unspent funds are public record; don’t write a fairy-tale utilisation graph.
- Always disambiguate SMAF ≠ SMAM in the first 100 words.
How a farmer / nursery should apply (2026)
- Ask the District Agriculture / Horticulture / Farm-forestry officer: Is agroforestry in this year’s RKVY AAP?
- Want saplings: take QPM from the notified state / KVK / FPO nursery (price = state decision). Classic per-plant SMAF DBT only if your state still runs that line.
- Want to build a nursery: project to the State Nodal Agency for the RKVY agroforestry component (small / hi-tech / TC lab).
- Papers: Aadhaar, land, bank, photos; entities add registration + DPR.
- Read RKVY agroforestry guidelines PDF.
- Ignore WhatsApp “SMAF 80% tractor” ads — that is SMAM.
Contact details (official + SERP)
1) Ministry / RKVY–agroforestry cell
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Office | DA&FW — RKVY / NRM–Rainfed / Horticulture (state nodal varies) |
| Address | Krishi Bhawan, New Delhi – 110 001 |
| Board | 011-23389340 · 011-23385093 |
| Ministry web | https://agriwelfare.gov.in |
| Guidelines | Operational Guidelines of Agroforestry under RKVY (PDF) |
| RKVY | State agriculture department RKVY cell + SLSC |
2) ICAR–CAFRI (technical nodal) — official
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Institute | ICAR–Central Agroforestry Research Institute |
| Address | Jhansi – 284 003, Uttar Pradesh |
| Director / AICRP PC | 0510-2730214 |
| Fax | 0510-2730364 |
| director.cafri@icar.gov.in · director.cafri@gmail.com | |
| Web | cafri.res.in · cafri.icar.gov.in |
| AICRP nodal (listed) | Dr A.K. Handa — Arun.Handa@icar.gov.in · same EPABX |
| ABiC (incubation) | same campus / director.cafri@icar.gov.in |
| X | @IcarCafri |
3) Political / ministry (same Krishi Bhawan set)
| Office | Phone / email |
|---|---|
| Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan | 011-23383370 / 23782691 · agrimin.india@gmail.com · Room 120 |
| MoS Bhagirath Choudhary | 011-23782343 / 23388165 · Room 199Q |
| MoS Ram Nath Thakur | 011-23383975 / 23383976 · Room 322 |
4) Field
State Agriculture / Horticulture Nodal Officer (Agroforestry or RKVY) · KVK · AICRP-Agroforestry centre in the SAU · Forest farm-forestry wing (transit species list).
Social media & web
| Platform | URL | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| CAFRI | cafri.res.in | Science + QPM |
| CAFRI X | @IcarCafri | Institute, not a subsidy login |
| Ministry | agriwelfare.gov.in | RKVY + SMAF history |
| Ministry Facebook | facebook.com/agriGoI | agrigoi2019@gmail.com |
| PIB | PRID 1946805 (8 Aug 2023 restructure + ₹271.65 cr) | Cite this for “restructured under RKVY” |
| ICAR | icar.gov.in / aicrp.icar.gov.in/agroforestry | AICRP network |
| No SMAF-only Instagram / farmer app | — | State agri FB pages carry plantation photos |
FAQs
Q. Is SMAF still alive?
Yes — as the Agroforestry component of PM-RKVY, QPM-focused, ₹271.65 crore GoI (15th FC window). The 2016 standalone CSS brand is what was “restructured.”
Q. How much does a farmer get per tree?
State-specific, and many states stopped a simple per-plant SMAF line after 2023. Classic design was about 50% of plantation cost, often survival-linked. Today many farmers get free/cheap QPM, not a fat DBT.
Q. Can I apply online on a central portal?
No SMAM-style national portal. State RKVY / agri office.
Q. Why was my state excluded earlier?
No liberal felling & transit for farm-grown trees.
Q. SMAF or SMAM?
SMAF = trees. SMAM = machines.
Q. Who certifies seedlings?
CAFRI / AICRP / state nodal QPM protocols — not random private polybag stock.
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