Farmers living near forests to be trained to grow herbal plant

Farmers residing in villages close to forests, will be trained to cultivate medicinal plants to promote the use of herbs and for extra income to them, state Forest Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar said today.
"Farmers residing in villages adjacent to forests will be trained to cultivate medicinal plants and will be provided seeds. They will be given a guarantee that the medicinal plants cultivated by them will be purchased by the state government," he said.
A project has been prepared in discussion with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, so that these farmers can earn over Rs 50,000 profit per acre, Mungantiwar said.

Income from forests is regarded as 'per capita joy income', he said adding that forests supply everything from oxygen to wood for last rites, the minister added.
"There are 352 tigers in area close to 350 kms from Nagpur. Thus, Nagpur is regarded as the tiger capital. Joy of seeing a tiger is very rare. Tiger does not only give this joy, but also generates revenue worth crores. Therefore, a farmer residing in the nearby villages protect the forest," Mungantiwar said.
He said the government has doubled the compensation given to farmers, whose villages fall under the forest buffer zone, for the losses incurred due to wild animals. "Farmers will be provided a wired compound with 80 per cent grants," he said.

Also, a decision to provide 100 per cent gas connections to these villages has been taken, he added.

"These villages could not fit into the criterion of 'Jalyukt Shivar' (a micro irrigation) scheme. Now, even villages from the buffer zone will get benefits of this scheme," the minister said.
Forest is a sector that provides employment and for the conservation of this sector, one crore tree ambassadors will be appointed.
"If 'moha' (mahua) flower is properly marketed, then from each district, tribals can get employment worth Rs 220 crore. The Forest Department is taking efforts in that direction as well," Mungantiwar said.