Jamshedpur, Dec. 4: Forest authorities will start cashew plantation in various areas of Saranda forest as part of an afforestation process in the reserve forest.

About 200 hectares of forest land has been earmarked for plantation, scheduled to start this year.

The move was prompted by the success of a similar project in neighbouring Kendujhar district of Orissa. Cashew plantation in Saranda will not only help in soil conservation but also provide an alternative source of income to villagers.

Divisional forest officer, Saranda, H.S. Gupta said villagers made a brew from cashew nuts. He expressed hope that once plantation begins, many processing units would come up in the area and convert the hamlets into vibrant commercial centres.

Gupta said plantation would be carried out in accordance with the Centre’s joint forest management scheme.

He said after the formation of Jharkhand, the forest policy has undergone changes, which ensured the participation of villagers living in peripheral areas of the reserved forest in the afforestation process.

Eco-development committees (EDCs) have been formed in these areas to ensure the involvement of the villagers in the plantation process.