The partnership links agroforestry, aromatic crops, biochar and farmer-owned enterprises into one circular system across Assam
Guwahati, 23 September 2026
Assam has field boundaries suited to trees, idle plots suited to aromatic grasses and degraded slopes suited to bamboo. Farmers in these areas need processing units, assured buyers and technical support before planting makes economic sense. A new three-year partnership sets out to put all three in place.
The Assam Agroforestry Development Board (AADB), Government of Assam, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the SLRD Consortium. The consortium brings together School of Livelihood and Rural Development as Lead Member, the Global Association of MSMEs (GAMSME), and YesEarth Eco Consulting Private Limited as Technical Partner.
From biomass to income
The MoU sets a framework to build Integrated Circular Sustainable Systems across Assam. Biomass from farms, plantations and invasive species removal goes into processing units. Biochar, biofertiliser, essential oils and planting material come out, with farmer institutions at the centre of the value chain.
The partners will work on:
Agroforestry development and restoration of degraded land
Aromatic crops and essential oil value chains
Biochar and biofertiliser systems
Nursery development
Watershed management
Ecological restoration and eco conservation
Climate change mitigation and adaptation
Trees Outside Forests
A central focus is Trees Outside Forests (TOF), the trees on farms, homesteads, roadsides and community land. The consortium will expand TOF through community-based organisations and tie each plantation to an income stream through value addition and circular economy models.
Who does what
School of Livelihood and Rural Development leads field implementation, community engagement and coordination with institutions, working from its North East India Regional Headquarters in Guwahati.
GAMSME handles the market side. The association connects rural enterprises with buyers, arranges credit linkages and prepares producer groups to meet market standards.
YesEarth Eco Consulting supplies the technical layer: climate and sustainability expertise, carbon project development, digital monitoring frameworks and impact assessment.
Farmer Producer Organisations, community institutions and rural enterprises will receive capacity building, institutional strengthening, market linkages and enterprise support. The partners will also align the work with existing government programmes, so AADB support combines with funds from other agencies.
First step on the ground
The first activity under the MoU is an awareness and engagement programme on aromatic herb cultivation and value addition. The programme is planned at a location in the Bodoland Territorial Council area, with support from CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CSIR-CIMAP), the lead institution of the CSIR Aroma Mission.
About the SLRD Consortium
School of Livelihood and Rural Development (Lead Member) has worked in rural livelihoods, agroforestry, sustainability, eco conservation and climate action since 2003. The organisation has completed 54 programmes, reached 110,000+ direct beneficiaries and connected 100+ FPOs and producer institutions across 11 states, with offices in Bhopal and Guwahati.
Global Association of MSMEs (GAMSME) strengthens micro, small and medium enterprises through enterprise development, market access, credit linkages, capacity building and convergence with government schemes.
YesEarth Eco Consulting Private Limited (Technical Partner) provides climate and sustainability consulting, carbon project development, digital monitoring systems, environmental planning and impact assessment.
Other links:
https://shorturl.at/NbOfF
https://shorturl.at/6nXkb
