Gandhinagar, June 25: Under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, the Gujarat government is making continuous efforts to create a greener and more environmentally friendly state. To realize the vision of ‘Green Gujarat’, the state government is implementing several initiatives focused on environmental protection and green development. A significant emphasis is being placed on the nursery development program, which aims to increase the production of high-quality plants in the social forestry department’s nurseries.
The state government has allocated ₹500 million for the nursery development program. This funding will be utilized to enhance the quality of plants produced in social forestry nurseries across the state. The initiative involves developing local species using modern seedling techniques, producing plants that reach heights of 6 to 8 feet.
Farmers associated with agriculture and horticulture have noted that the plants available from government nurseries are not only cost-effective but also of superior quality. The successful growth of these plants contributes to increased greenery and boosts farmers’ incomes.
Farmer Rajubhai Patel shared that plants from government nurseries are significantly cheaper than those from private nurseries. He mentioned that if any technical advice or guidance is needed after purchasing the plants, it is readily available, providing substantial benefits to farmers.
Another farmer, Tulsidas Patel, stated that he visited the Raj Bhavan nursery to obtain Falasa plants. He recalled purchasing Falasa plants from the same nursery four years ago, which are now bearing fruit and generating good income. He noted that cultivating Falasa requires relatively less effort and yields satisfactory production.
The impact of the state government’s initiative extends beyond plant production. The plants being developed in nurseries across each district are being planted on a large scale through ordinary citizens, farmers, rural women, tribal communities, and self-help groups. This not only promotes environmental conservation but also ensures participation from various segments of society.
Gujarat’s Forest Minister Arjun Modhwadia announced that the forest department has launched a new and comprehensive plan under the “Green Gujarat” campaign this year. He stated that approximately one million plants developed in nurseries are being planted as part of this initiative. These plants range in height from 8 to 12 feet, with an expected survival rate of 80 to 90 percent.
The minister emphasized that similar experiments have been conducted in the past, but this time it is being implemented on a much larger scale. He believes this will significantly increase the state’s green cover and help strengthen environmental balance.
According to the forest department, these plants are being developed in a total of 423 nurseries across the state. The department aims to produce one million plants each year to ensure the continuous momentum of the tree planting campaign. The government’s objective is to promote the conservation of traditional forests while also expanding forest areas.
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