Since 1989, Andhra Paper Limited recognized the need of self sufficiency in terms of sourcing of fibrous raw materials. Given the nature of the crop that finally delivers the pulpwood, it would have led to deforestation unless vital step of afforestation was initiated and ensured. Consequently, Andhra Paper Limited embarked on an ambitious plan to generate the raw material by coordinating with farmers to utilize their barren marginal and degraded lands.
This pioneering step marked the commencement of the farm forestry plantation activities, and was a turning point in the history of the company. Started in 1989, the social forestry initiative has spread to Visakhapatnam, Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, East Godavari, West Godavari, Krishna, Guntur, Prakasam and Nellore districts of Andhra Pradesh. Since then, the program has been providing a means of survival for the small farmers, and focusing on resultant improvement in the socio-economic status of their communities. In return, Andhra Paper Limited has achieved total self-sufficiency in the sourcing of raw material. It has brought to field high yielding, genetically superior clones of Casuarina to maximize plantation productivity and revenue generation for the farmers.
