UP govt mulls dedicated agroforestry policy: IIDC

Lucknow: Sensing significant investment potential in the plywood and agroforestry sector, Uttar Pradesh govt is considering a dedicated policy to promote the industry and address regulatory bottlenecks.The move was discussed during an interaction between senior state officials and nearly 100 plywood manufacturers and investors from across the country at the Invest UP office in Lucknow on Monday.“We will study policies of neighbouring states and work towards creating a future-ready framework for the sector. A committee constituted for the purpose would include industry representatives to ensure that policy decisions reflect ground realities and business requirements,” said IIDC Deepak Kumar.The industry delegation highlighted Uttar Pradesh’s potential as a manufacturing hub but flagged concerns related to licensing, forestry regulations, pollution norms, penalties and No-Objection Certificate (NOC) approvals.Industry representatives also suggested the creation of a separate policy for agro-based industries and offered to submit a draft framework for govt’s consideration.Responding to the concerns, Kumar said the issues would be taken up with chief minister Yogi Adityanath to explore industry-friendly solutions.

Invest UP CEO, Vijay Kiran Anand, said Uttar Pradesh had emerged as one of the country’s most competitive investment destinations, backed by over 36 sector-specific policies, capital subsidies, land-linked incentives and employment support measures.Seeking to reassure investors on land availability, Anand said the state would identify four to five industrial clusters from its existing land bank for cluster-based development.

He added that where land requirements exceed available inventory, govt would facilitate acquisition and endeavour to make land available within six months.Industry representatives also proposed developing dedicated manufacturing ecosystems on the lines of the state’s One District One Product (ODOP) programme, suggesting a “One Industrial Park” model for focused industrial growth.As part of the engagement, participating investors will visit Sandila in Hardoi on Tuesday to assess land availability and industrial infrastructure. Officials said the visit could pave the way for new investments in plywood manufacturing and allied industries, generating employment and strengthening the state’s manufacturing base.