Experts Suggest Adoption Of ‘RaghuRam’ Initiative To Restore Forest Cover In Odisha’s Gajapati

Berhampur: Forest experts have suggested adoption of ‘RaghuRam’ agroforestry to combat alarming depletion of greenery in Odisha’s Gajapati district.

A team of experts including Dr Subash Chandra Mahapatra from Forestry College of Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT) and senior scientists visited Gajapati district under Trees Outside Forests in India (TOFI) programme from January 20 to 24.

They were studying non-forest plantations to understand the positive environmental impact. Impressed by the changes brought by ‘RaghuRam’ agroforestry, they said it can be example for case studies of larger discussions on ecological restoration.

This initiative would not only showcase environmental conservation but also stand as a testament to how farming can be rewarding and fulfilling.

‘RaghuRam’ initiative is a multi-layered agroforestry set up by Sanjay Jena, with support from Odisha government’s Forest department and different wings of Ganapati district administration, in Gurandi.

He said it was a tribute to his paternal and maternal grandfathers, Raghunath and Ramachandra. “Their values and love for the land continue to inspire me. Being deeply attached to both of them, I felt this was the perfect way to honour their legacy, he said.

It proved that a small area could be used as a sustainable livelihood farming setup for a family, he added. “At a time when the world is grappling with environmental degradation, greenhouse effects, and dwindling green coverage, the reality in Gajapati district paints a grim picture. Mountains of the Eastern Ghats are not just being deforested, they are being entirely razed. The repercussions are immense: loss of biodiversity, increased carbon emissions, and disrupted ecosystems,” he said.

Sanja also said the most alarming issue was not as much the damage as the indifference of the majority. “While thousands of trees are planted, a collective lack of concern for preserving what remains of our natural heritage reveals the mindset of many in our district,” he said.