Patna: Dr. Prem Kumar, Minister of the Department of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, is set to distribute incentives to beneficiaries of the Agro Forestry Scheme on Saturday at Aranya Bhawan here. Under the scheme, plants are provided to farmers by local nurseries of the department at a safe price of Rs. 10. The farmers are then given incentives for the proper care of the plants, with a provision to pay Rs. 60 per plant if the survival rate exceeds 50% after three years.
Farmers from across the state have enthusiastically participated in the Agro Forestry Scheme. On Saturday, a total amount of Rs. 1.28 lakh will be distributed among eight farmers from Vaishali district, Rs. 4.28 lakh among 54 farmers from Patna district, and Rs. 17.09 lakh among 233 farmers from Bhojpur district. In total, more than Rs. 2 crore will be distributed among farmers in various districts of Bihar under this scheme this month.
Additionally, farmers who are part of the Chief Minister’s Private Nursery Establishment Scheme will receive Rs. 114,739,160 in total under the program. This initiative aims to boost agroforestry practices by encouraging farmers to participate in sustainable plant cultivation and nursery establishment.
The Agro Forestry Scheme is also being expanded to include Poplar ETP in Agroforestry Other Species. Beneficiaries under the Private Nursery Establishment Scheme have set up nurseries for Poplar and other species. The department provides support to these farmers through the supply of saplings and incentives for plant care.
Under the Mukhyamantri Private Poplar Nursery Scheme, farmers receive 10,000 cuttings per acre, which are used to grow Poplar plants. These plants are later purchased by the Department of Environment, Forest and Climate Change at an average rate of Rs. 30 per ETP.
The Mukhyamantri Private Other Species Nursery Scheme, established between February and March, involves the cultivation of different plant species. The department purchases standard-compliant plants from the beneficiaries at Rs. 24 per plant.
The distribution of these incentives is part of the state’s ongoing efforts to encourage agroforestry, promote environmental sustainability, and ensure farmers’ welfare.
