Plantation drive

Jamshedpur, July 7: The Dhalbhum forest division has embarked on a bamboo mission.

Under a Union government plan to develop forestland that is implemented by the Forest Development Corporation (FSC), the division is planting saplings to boost bamboo production.

Three other projects will be undertaken under the mission to aid farmers and private agencies involved in bamboo plantation.

Elaborating on the proposed projects, A.T. Mishra, the divisional forest officer (Dhalbhum), said that 30,000 saplings would be planted, existing bamboo forests would be developed, quality bamboo seeds would be supplied to farmers and private agencies, and grant would be provided to the latter to buy the seeds.

“Saplings have already been sown in forestland under the Dhalbhum forest division. We have earmarked a land spread over 50 hectares near Narsinghar in East Singhbhum for implementing this plan,” Mishra said. “We have also started developing the existing bamboo forests. The drive involves cleaning the area and doing away with damaged plants and trees,” he added.

Last year, the Dhalbhum forest division had completed a similar exercise on 100 hectares at Charchakka village near Dhalbhumgarh.

Mishra said that the forest division had also set up a bamboo nursery in Chakulia for sowing about 50,000 seeds. “In fact, quality seeds have already been sowed. It is meant for distribution among farmers at a reasonable price. These seeds will benefit the farmers, who make several bamboo products. The private agencies too will be encouraged to buy them at 50 per cent subsidy,” Mishra added.

“We had convened a meeting with the private agencies in Mango recently and asked them to submit applications at the earliest. A concrete plan will take shape once we start getting the buyers,” he added. The rest of the projects are progressing smoothly. “We are satisfied with the progress made so far,” Mishra said.