The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) India Mission has renewed its support for Tripura’s environmental restoration and community development efforts following a successful mid-term review of the Tripura JICA Project for Sustainable Catchment Forest Management (SCATFORM). Conducted from October 21 to 24, 2024, the review showcased the project’s advancements in sustainable forestry, ecological restoration, and livelihood enhancement in rural areas.
The JICA delegation, comprising key officials including Kei Otsuki, Second Secretary, Economic Wing, Embassy of Japan in India, Fujiwara Hidenobu, Japanese Representative, JICA India, and Nishtha Vengurlekar, Development Specialist, JICA India, visited multiple project sites to assess the progress and identify areas for future collaboration. Their tour included several field activities that have been instrumental in SCATFORM’s efforts in the state.
The delegation commended SCATFORM’s achievements since its inception in 2017-18, including the restoration of degraded forest areas, improvement of water retention in catchment zones, and biodiversity conservation.
Reflecting on the progress, Kei Otsuki expressed his satisfaction: “The visit to Tripura has been incredibly insightful. I am highly impressed with how the SCATFORM project is addressing not only environmental restoration but also economic empowerment for local communities. It is heartening to see the people benefiting from sustainable practices like agarwood cultivation.”
Fujiwara Hidenobu highlighted the potential of the NTFP sector, especially agarwood, as a transformative force for Tripura’s rural economy, assuring JICA’s continued support for this sector.
With 43% financial progress already achieved, SCATFORM continues to stand as a pillar of sustainable development in Tripura, combining ecological restoration with community empowerment.
One of the visit’s highlights was a tour of the “One Stall One Product” Agar Stall at Dharmanagar Railway Station, promoting agarwood-based products. The initiative, part of SCATFORM’s non-timber forest product (NTFP) program, has significantly impacted local economies, providing alternative livelihoods. The delegation also visited the Agar Plantation and Processing Centre in Kadamtala, North Tripura District, where they observed sustainable agarwood cultivation, a key component of the region’s economic development.
In Unakoti District, the delegation inspected Artificial Regeneration (AR) and Teak Plantation Management (TPM) initiatives under the Joyamanipara Joint Forest Management Committee (JFMC). The JICA officials praised the high level of community participation, which has been crucial for ecological restoration and forest management. The delegation also visited the historic Unakoti Heritage site, famous for its ancient rock carvings.
A significant moment of the visit was the inauguration of the Bagaicherra Beat Office, constructed under the JICA project. This office will play a vital role in overseeing forest management activities in the region, further enhancing the project’s capacity.
On Thursday, the delegation visited the Sitacherra Eco-Tourism site, a key development under SCATFORM’s focus on eco-tourism. The project aims to promote eco-tourism as a sustainable livelihood for local communities while conserving Tripura’s biodiversity and natural beauty.
The visit concluded with a high-level meeting with Tripura’s Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) and Head of Forest Force (HoFF). JICA provided feedback and discussed future strategies, emphasizing the importance of maintaining momentum in the project’s implementation.
Pravin Agrawal, CEO & Project Director of SCATFORM, expressed appreciation for JICA’s support, stating, “The successful mid-term review is a significant milestone for us. It underscores the importance of the work being done on the ground, and we are encouraged by JICA’s positive feedback.”
(Tripura, Northeast)
