The district administration of Virudhunagar in Tamil Nadu is going to distribute 3 lakhs tree saplings to the farmers at free of cost. The whole cost will be borne by district administration as the scheme is implemented with funding from state and central government. Under the Tamil Nadu Mission for Sustainable Green Cover in Farm Lands (TNMSGCF) Scheme, farmers will apply for tree saplings and they will get 29 types of saplings including Red Sandal, White Sandal, Mahogany, Vengai, Teak, Manila Tamarind, Jamun, etc.
Indian Masterminds interacted with 2013 batch IAS officer J Meghanath Reddy, Collector of Virudhunagar to know more about this initiative.
TNMSGCF SCHEME
Speaking to Indian Masterminds, Mr. Reddy said, “We have built Uzhavan App for farmers in Tamil Nadu who have to apply there. Saplings will be given to the applicants to increase the sustainable green cover. Central Govt will contribute 60 % fund for this scheme and State Government will bear 40 % burden. Farmers will get 160 saplings per hectare if they are planting on the margins of their agricultural lands and 100 to 500 saplings per hectare if they are planting in the main agriculture area.”
SUITABLE TREES FOR LOCAL ENVIRONMENT
The kind of sapling is being distributed in this scheme is more suitable for local agro climatic conditions. Collector Reddy said that the scheme will increase sustainable green cover in farmlands and will be beneficial for local species too. A total of 160 saplings per hectare would be given to each farmer if they want to plant the saplings along the farm bunds.
HOW TO GET SAPLINGS
Farmers can register their details including land survey number, Aadhar No etc., in Uzhavan App and the Block level Assistant Agricultural officers will inspect the registered farm. And then the eligible farmers can obtain the seedlings on first come first serve basis from the Block Level Extension Centers of Virudhunagar District at free of cost.
