New Delhi Hit by an acute shortage of land for growing eucalyptus, the paper industry is now banking on agro-forestry to meet the rising demand of wood pulp. Started by paper major ITC, more than 1,500 acres of land is covered under the agro-forestry plan in areas such as Khammam, west Godavari, Prakasam and Nizamabad districts of Andhra Pradesh.

In these areas, eucalyptus is planted on the same land where other agricultural crops such as cotton, chili, sunflower, maize and tobacco are grown.