New orchards planned in two districts to grow hybrid variety
The forest department plans to exploit the mango-farming potential of East Singhbhum and Seraikela-Kharsawan.
Senior officials of the department said that they had identified 128 acres in the two districts for developing mango orchards. The proposed orchards would come up on riyati land, for which the department has already identified potential farmers.
Dhalbhum divisional forest officer A.T. Mishra said that while 28 acres were in his region, another 100 acres were located in Seraikela-Kharsawan division.
At present, Mishra is also in-charge of the divisional forest in neighbouring district.
The department has decided to distribute a special hybrid variety of mango for specially suiting the needs of this region.
The growth of this special variety is also faster than the conventional ones.
“The soil of this region is not equipped to handle the convention variety of mango, which is being grown in Bihar and some regions in the Jharkhand. After conducting a thorough soil testing in the region, we have decided for this variety of mango,” said a senior official of the department.
He added that the officials had to first convince local farmers to go for mango farming, which was not tried in this region much.
“The variety, which we have come up with, suits the need of this region. It would easily adjust to the soil, which is available in this region. In long run it would help the farmers and in augmenting their income from land, most of which are now lying vacant,” said a forest department official.
According to him, besides the mango fruit, the wood of old trees also fetches money for the farmer.
Mango orchards are very famous in neighbouring Bihar and Bengal, but has failed to catch up here because of unfavourable soil.
“Due to our effort, greenery will come up in land that is owned by farmers. Moreover, people in this region would get to taste the mango grown in their own orchards,” added forest officials.
Source: telegraphindia.com
Publication date: 2/13/2009
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