Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Jul 23: In the year 2011, Karnataka government implemented an agroforestry incentive programme in order to achieve environmental equilibrium. The programme has become successful in Kundapur division where over 6.28 lac saplings have been distributed to the farmers living within the jurisdiction of Kundapur division during the last ten years.

As per the terms of the programme, farmers and members of the general public are provided with saplings at the nearest nurseries at concessional rates. The people who collect these saplings have to plant them in their land and tend them. For every plant that has survived one year, an incentive of Rs 35 is paid. At the end of the second and third year, Rs 40 and 50 respectively is paid. A total of Rs 125 is therefore disbursed as incentive.

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During the last three years, a total of Rs 1,05,58,120 has been disbursed by Kundapur forest sub-division to the farmers. Initially, the incentive was less, but the same has been increased for the last two years. During 2018-19, a sum of Rs 16,345. Last year, Rs 60.9 lac rupees was given as incentive.

Under the programme, 59,292 saplings were planted and grown. Teak, Mahogany, jackfruit, purple fruit tree, sandalwood, mango, kokum, almond tree saplings etc are available. Farmers can also collect the saplings from nurseries of the forest department at Byndoor, Kundapur, Shankaranarayana, Udupi, Hebri, Karkala, Moodbidri and Venoor. 

The farmers can recover the cost of growing from the incentive amounts. If the planting is undertaken on a large scale, they can reap benefits by way of fruits, nuts, timber etc. Kundapur divisional forest officer, Ashish Reddy, says that people can directly approach nurseries, and provide Aadhar card number, RTC of the land and bank account details and register themselves by paying ten rupees. Later they can buy saplings at concessional rates, which will later be inspected by the forest staff.