Srinagar, Mar 10: In order to save the environment, the Social Forestry Department Kashmir will distribute 3.5 lakh male popular plants among farmers on nominal charges under farm forestry this season across many districts in Kashmir.
Regional Director of the Social Forestry Department, Kashmir, Mehraj Ud Din Malik said this season they will distribute 3.5 lakh male popular plants in different districts of Kashmir and the campaign has been started.
“Why we are planting male popular plants is that the female popular shed cotton after spring which often creates problems for people and people often complain of female popular trees. We also encourage the plantation of popular trees in farm forestry,” he said.
The popular plants are first raised at nurseries of the Social Forestry Department Kashmir and are then taken out and distributed to the people or the farmers. The plants are being distributed under Save Environment campaign.
The Regional Director said the male popular plants are fast growing and is beneficial for industries. He said these can be used for wood or sold after 10 years only. “It does not need more care and maintenance and fertilizers. It can grow even in barren land as well,” he said.
In Kashmir, popular wood is used in many industries including making apple boxes, pencil, bat and it is also sought out and used in the construction of houses and other residential structures.
He said in Baramulla, Srinagar, Anantnag, Ganderbal, Kupwara has huge demand for male poplar trees and they are currently focussing on these districts only.
“We took this initiative four years ago and we will continue to distribute the popular plants Male popular trees is certified plant species and don’t shed cotton. It will reduce the uncertainty, which was caused by the female poplar trees earlier,” he said.
The department has started the distribution of poplar trees among the locals of Bandipora and Pulwama at the local nursery, ‘to ensure socio-economic development’ in the area.
The official also said that the poplar trees are main source of income for the villagers and there are hundreds of units in Kashmir that solely depend on popular trees and are also a source of employment generation.
In 2022, the Divisional Administration Kashmir had ordered complete ban on plantation and growing of female Russian popular trees to get rid of the pollen related infections.
