Maharashtra : Over 22 lakh trees will be planted in fields of over 48000 farmers
Mumbai, Aug 02: Finance Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar said that 48,455 farmers in the state have voluntarily registered for forest farming and 22, 23, 980 fruit and other trees will be planted in their fields. This initiative is taken to increase their income and the farmers in the state have vigorously responded to the appeal of the forest department to take up forest farming, he added.
The planning department under the Mahatma Gandhi National Employment Guarantee Scheme had taken the decision to launch forest farming through the Social Forestry Department of Forest Department. Under this program, fruit-bearing and other variety trees would be planted on the boundary of the fields, or on the farm lands. This includes small farmers holding upto two ha area under the various categories.
The forest farming includes plantation of trees of 31 different categories like teak, sandal, khaya, bamboo, neem, mahogany, amla, beheda, hirda, arjun, seetafal, tamarind, acacia, anjan, khair, mango, cashew, jackfruit etc.
Total geographical area of Maharashtra is 3/07 lakh sq km and as per the national forest policy 93, 248 sq km area should be under forest cover. At present area under forest is61, 570 sq km i.e. 20% of the total geographical area. It is less by 31, 248 sq km as per the national forest policy. If the forest cover in the state is to be increased up to 33% then it is not possible on the forest lands. For this it is necessary to bring other lands under forest cover.
Taking this into consideration the forest department has paved the way for forest farming and through that increasing employment opportunities and income. This will realize the dream of green Maharashtra, Mungantiwar exuded confidence. Those are interested in this scheme can apply to concerned gram panchayat and take benefit of this forest farming scheme, he said.
