The Punjab Government has made an appeal to the farmers to resort to poplar plantation under crop diversification and thereby earn rich rewards.
Punjab Forests Minister, Chunni lal Bhagat on Monday said that to cull out the farmers of the state from the traditional agriculture, Punjab Government started a scheme to distribute free colonel poplars plants to the farmers in the year 2013-14 and it has proved very beneficial to them since then.
He informed that the land, on which poplar plantation is undertaken, can be used for 3 years for sowing wheat, mustard, potatoes, oats etc in Rabi season and turmeric, bajwra, moong etc in Kharif season.
The Minister said that the bist, doab and majha areas of Punjab are very suitable for the cultivation of poplar and they become completely mature trees within 5-6 years.
He informed that the scheme for free distribution of poplars is functional across the state and the plants are being given on first come first serve basis. The willing farmers just need to approach the nearest Division/Range Officer and register their name with the officer.
There is a huge demand for poplars so the farmers would face no marketing problems, in fact the merchants would self approach the farmers to purchase them, he said.
He said that Forest Department also gives relevant knowledge to the farmers from time to time.