Chhattisgarh Government Launches Mukhyamantri Vriksh Sampada Yojana to Promote Commercial Tree Plantation
Chief Minister Mr. Bhupesh Baghel has announced the implementation of the “Mukhyamantri Vriksh Sampada Yojana” to promote commercial tree plantation in the state. The scheme aims to increase the income of farmers and institutions by promoting commercial plantation and ensuring a strong market system for forest produce.
Under the scheme, interested landowners of all classes, government and non-government institutions, private educational institutions, trusts, NGOs, panchayats, and land contract holders will be eligible for commercial plantation on their land with the consent of the farmers. The state government will provide a 100% subsidy for plantation up to 5 acres and a 50% financial subsidy for plantation in more than 5 acres. Farmers are encouraged to cultivate mainly 5 tree species, including tissue culture bamboo, clonal eucalyptus, milia dobia, tissue culture teak, and white sandalwood.
The Forest Department has started preparing for the implementation of the Chief Minister Tree Estate Scheme under the Mukhyamantri Vriksh Sampada Yojana. The scheme targets the plantation of 12 types of trees on 30,000 acres of land in the state this year. These include clonal eucalyptus in 17,182 acres, rootshoot teak in 6,456 acres, tissue culture in 2,617 acres, sandalwood in 1,462 acres, milia dubia in 834 acres, normal bamboo in 7 acres, tissue culture bamboo in 607 acres, Rakta Chandan in 126 acres, Amla in 43 acres, Khamar in 40 acres, Shisham in 20 acres, and Mahaneem in 20 acres.
The scheme’s main objective is to promote commercial tree plantation in the state and establish a strong market system for forest produce. The state government plans to make arrangements for the purchase of forest produce at fixed support prices through cooperative institutions, private companies, and other channels.
Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Chief of Forest Force Mr. Sanjay Shukla has stated that the scheme is expected to have a significant impact, with the plantation of commercial species on the lands of all the farmers, government and non-government institutions, panchayats, or autonomous institutions of the state.