Step 1: Understanding the Question:
The Consortium of Industrial Agroforestry is a successful model of tripartite partnership between farmers, researchers, and wood-based industries. The question asks where this initiative started.
Detailed Explanation:
• Origin: The CIAF was a pioneering initiative of the Forest College and Research Institute (FCRI), which is a constituent college of the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU).
• Location: FCRI is located in Mettupalayam, Tamil Nadu.
• The Model: This consortium brings together paper industries (like TNPL), plywood industries, and matchmaking industries with farmers. The college provides high-quality clones and technical support, the industry provides a buy-back guarantee, and the farmer provides land and labor.
• Impact: This model has significantly increased the area under industrial timber (Melia, Eucalyptus, Casuarina) in South India and is now being replicated in other states.
Step 2: Final Answer:
The Consortium of Industrial Agroforestry was initiated at FCRI, Mettupalayam.