The Resource Survey and Management Division of Forest Research Institute organised a day-long brainstorming session on convergence of forestry and agriculture. The Chief Executive Officer of the National Rainfed Area Authority, New Delhi, Dr JS Samra, who was the chief guest on the occasion, inaugurated the session along with director general of Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education, Dr VK Bahuguna. Addressing the gathering, Dr Samra said that substantial public investments are being made through various Government schemes in the forestry and agriculture sector in order to strengthen the rural economy and the livelihood of the poor, especially the marginalised groups such as SC/ST and women. There is a need for optimising efforts through inter-sectoral approaches to effectively address the issue of poverty alleviation. The convergence of different programmes of forestry and agriculture like, National Afforestation programme, watershed programmes, National Horticulture Mission (NHM), National Food Security Mission and MNREGA among others, will enable better planning and effective investments in rural areas. Such convergence also brings synergy between different Government programme The workshop was attended by FRI director Dr SS Negi, Vice-Chancellor of YSP University of Horticulture and Forestry, Himachal Pradesh, Dr KR Dhiman, Dr AK Vyas of IARI New Delhi, Dr Jayveer Tyagi of NIH Roorkee and Dr Rakesh Shah of UKFD among others.