Odisha government today claimed to have become a surplus state in quality planting materials for fruit bearing trees.
The state is not required to import fruit saplings form outside Odisha which was the practice till last planting season. "we are now in a position to export some of the species to other states only except totapuri mango variety," said Director Horticulture Sanjeeb Chadha.
Chadha, said this after attending a high level review meeting held under the Chairmanship of Chief Secretary J K Mohapatra here. "We will also soon become self sufficient in totapuri variety," Chadha said adding that at present, around 111.01 lakh planting materials of various fruit species are available in government firms.
The saplings have already been allotted to different districts for plantation during the current season, he said adding that and, it is expected that targeted plantation for the current year will be achieved by September.
Because of timely interventions and regular monitoring activities during the last years, the state could become self sufficient in fruit bearing planting materials, Chadha claimed.
The Chief Secretary directed officials to take up plantation of fruit bearing trees in the fenced campus of ashram schools.
Setting the slogan of 'One child one plant', Mohapatra said each child should plant one fruit bearing plant. According to Scheduled Tribe and scheduled caste development secretary Sanjeeb Mishra there are about 3,50,00 students in Ashram Schools of the state.
