Guwahati: The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati has installed the Tree-Based Enterprise Incubation Center (TBEIC) under the Tree Outside Forests in India (TOFI) initiative aiming to foster sustainable tree-based businesses through technical, business and agroforestry innovations. Leveraging IIT Guwahati's resources, the centre will endorse tree-based value chains and link with Southeast Asian markets, impacting 800 million people.
The TBEIC intends to develop value chains for numerous tree crops, promote large-scale plantations and foster novelties in tree-based products and facilities. The induction was presided over by Steven Olive, USAID Mission Director – India and Devendra Jalihal, Director, IIT Guwahati. Several other distinguished guests, including USAID India Environment and Natural Resources Deputy Director Varghese Paul and NABARD DGM Sankar Das, graced the inauguration event.
Key stakeholders representing the Government of Assam and IIT Guwahati participated in the event. Steven Olive, USAID Mission Director-India, expressed excitement about the partnership between IIT Guwahati, Assam, and the TOFI team to catalyze these inventions and bring transformative technologies to farmers and groups.
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The TBEIC aims to enhance the technical and business skills of entrepreneurs, familiarize stakeholders with advanced agroforestry technologies, provide comprehensive support in business planning, financing, and marketing, and de-risk the setup process for new enterprises. Through these focused initiatives, the TBEIC seeks to empower stakeholders and foster sustainable growth in tree-based enterprises.
IIT Guwahati is devoted to driving novelty and sustainable growth in the region. The TBEIC aims to empower agro-based ventures and promote eco-friendly, resource-efficient solutions through collaboration with organizations like USAID and indigenous communities. The project will emphasize technologies critical to tree-based enterprise development, including wood and bamboo-based composites, bamboo-based cosmetic products, agarwood processing, medicinal herbal foods, biomass pelletization, latex tapping, rubber intermediate production, modern plantation technology, and fresh and freeze-dried fruits.
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Participants during the event
Ramesh C., Chief Conservator of Forests and Field Director, Manas National Park, Government of Assam, said that the initiative holds immense potential for the future. The technology and expertise from IIT Guwahati can help identify sustainable replacements for firewood, safeguarding that trees grown outside forests can benefit communities without depleting our natural resources. By endorsing tree cultivation and processing in rural areas, we can empower local communities while protecting the environment.
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The strategic goals of the TBEIC align with TOFI's broader objectives, which include strengthening the enabling environment for tree-based enterprises, providing economic incentives while mitigating risks for stakeholders, and enhancing access to information about Trees Outside Forests (TOF). The TBEIC aims to improve livelihoods and strengthen environmental resilience in the region by promoting sustainable entrepreneurship and innovative agroforestry practices.
The Trees Outside Forests in India (TOFI) project is a five-year initiative (2021-2026) supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Indian Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEFCC).
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