In the light of the emerging scenario in agriculture, there is a need to develop a broad environmental management framework (EMF) for the three research components of NAIP. The EMF not only focuses on the potential environmental risks but also tries to build on the environmental gains of the earlier project viz., NATP, into the activities that are to be developed under the NAIP. However, such a plan will depend on specific activities, scale of operation (both on-farm and off-farm activities) and types of agro-ecological zones. Sector-specific issues that may have some implications due to project interventions have been worked out. The environmental management framework will be used during project implementation in mitigating anticipated impacts. To facilitate the process, outlines have been developed for assessing possible environmental risks and putting mitigation measures in place. EMF consists of 1) Baseline Environmental Profile, 2) Environmental Impact and Risk Assessment, 3) Mitigation Strategies and 4) Monitorable Indicators and Institutionalization.
For addressing the environmental issues, each consortium will be required to assess and provide the basic information as per the environmental checklist. During the bidding process, the consortium leader will submit a detailed report on environmental concerns and a plan for management of environmental crises during the operation as a part of the technical report of the consortium. If the consortium lacks technical capacity for undertaking certain interventions for management of environmental concerns, it will be its responsibility to outsource it. There will be a separate note by the project proposal screening committee relating to redressing of environmental concerns in the proposal submitted by the consortium. There will be special clauses in the sanction letter/ MoU regarding follow-up of environmental safeguards for each consortium.
The details are available on the website of NAIP.