Champawat is going to import high quality walnut species from Jammu and Kashmir to develop walnut orchards in the district. The Chief Minister’s ‘Our Tree, Our Money’ scheme seems to have encouraged the farmers to opt for growing cash crops like walnut in the hill district of Uttarakhand. We have identified around 1,500 farmers to be involved in ‘Our Tree, Our Money’ scheme in the district, said AK Gupta, divisional forest officer (DFO), Champawat.
Now, we are going to import high quality walnut species from Jammu and Kashmir. Besides, we are also planning to import high quality fodder species from the same State. A proposal has already been prepared on the matter, added Gupta. Since wild animals feasting over crops is a major concern for the farmers in the hill district like Champawat, the people associated with farming have been advised to grow agri-species like ‘Chaulai’ which the wild animals are inclined to avoid as their fodder, maintained Champawat district administration officials.
Mention worthy, the State Government launched the scheme ‘Our Tree, Our Money’ as part of an environment conservation programme last year. Under this scheme, respective forest divisions in the State would make fixed deposits of Rs300 for a period of three years for each of the persons who plant new trees in their farms. The basic purpose of encouraging the farmers to grow plants in their farms is to reduce their dependence on forests for fuel, fodder and timber and for other needs, the officials said.
People may collect saplings from their respective areas’ forest departments and registered nurseries at concessional rates under the scheme, the officials added. As more than 9,000 people are associated with dairy farming here in Champawat, the administration is encouraging them to avail the popular schemes launched by the Government, the officials informed. The interesting fact is that the climatic conditions of the State are ideal for production of temperate and subtropical fruits. While in the hilly areas of Uttarakhand like Champawat and Nainital, apple, pear, peach, plum, khumani and walnut are grown in abundance, the Terai region is known for mango, litchi, lemon and guava that come here up in profusion.