An evaluation team of the Vanam-Manam 2018 plantation year has observed that 2.68 crore seedlings were distributed to stakeholders of various departments against the target of 1.28 crore, making a 35% green cover for Chittoor district possible by the year end.
The team, comprising officials from forest, animal husbandry, municipal administration, police, education, revenue, rural water works, irrigation and social welfare departments and the National Highways Authority of India, on Wednesday inspected agro-forestry, avenue, institutional, fodder and homestead plantations on hillocks in G.D. Nellore, Bangarupalem and Chittoor mandals.
Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) and Vanam-Manam Chittoor nodal officer G. Srinivasulu said concerted efforts of all departments since January until the third week of October had yielded phenomenal results, surpassing the target by 256%.
“This has put Chittoor district in the number two position among the 13 districts of Andhra Pradesh. The departments of agriculture, sericulture and horticulture have played a massive role in the drive. Mango plantations alone have contributed to meeting the target. The Vanam Manam scheme is primarily aimed at enhancing green cover, giving a fillip to rural development, providing food security and creating new avenues for income generation in rural areas,” he said.
Expansion planned
The DFO said the government planned on expanding the scheme to 78,650 hectares in the district to Palle Vanam concepts, hillocks, reserve forests and areas under social forestry.
He said agro-forestry was taken up on about 300 hectares. “As rain was predicted in the last week of October and the first week of November, all stakeholders have been asked to speed up planting,” Mr Srinivasulu added. Mr. Srinivasulu said that apart from the projects, thousands of households had showed interest in growing plants of medicinal and spiritual values in courtyards and gardens.
During an interactive session with farmers at Polilnaidu Palle village of GD Nellore mandal, the team observed milk production got a remarkable boost with the planting of high quality fodder.
Farmers said that by growing viable timber and fruit bearing varieties on their fields, they were expecting good returns in another three to four years.
