In another ‘farmer centric’ move, the Uttar Pradesh Government will develop as many as 150 nurseries under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) as this will not only create employment opportunities in the state but also give a boost to the farmers engaged in horticulture.
In line with this decision, the Rural Development department has been asked to prepare a proposal to set up nurseries in 100 days. As many as 22.50 crore saplings will be planted in these nurseries and each nursery will have at least 15 lakh saplings. The nurseries will comprise traditional crops, flowers, vegetables as well as good quality fruits and vegetables and will become a source of increased income for the farmers of the state, a government spokesman said.
He said a maximum of two nurseries would be set up in each district. In these, farmers would be taught and made aware of ways to cultivate medicinal plants like Sarpagandha, Ashwagandha, Brahmi, Kalmegh, Kaunch, Shatavari, Tulsi, Aloe vera along with other flowers and fruits.
Through the development of nurseries, the people in the state will get many opportunities to establish their own employment avenues. With such innovations, the government is working to increase the income of farmers and provide them maximum benefits.
"It will also increase the green cover in the state, benefit the environment, and encourage people to plant trees," the spokesman said.