Van Mahotsav Week & Tree Plantation Campaign @ Bharat Ka Amrut Mahotsav

10 - 17 July, 2021, Bhopal

The ICAR-Indian Institute of Soil Science, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh organized a week-long “Van Mahotsav Programme” from 10th to 16th July, 2021 and the “Tree Plantation Campaign” on 17th July, 2021 at the villages to celebrate the ICAR’s 93rd Foundation Day”. The Institute initiated a mass planting drive of fruit trees to celebrate the occasion.

Dr. Ashok Kumar Patra, Director, ICAR-IISS, Bhopal highlighted the importance of fruit crops in life. He also encouraged the staff and farmers to plant more fruit crops for ensuring the nutritional food security. Dr. Patra stressed on the special characteristics of the fruit crops. He stated that the crops can be grown economically in the neglected and marginalized lands where food grains and other field crops cannot be grown. He emphasized that the inter-crops can also be grown in the space between fruit crops to increase the crop productivity per unit area. Such integration of agri-horti system in the field can be a better option for doubling the farmers’ income.

About 300 Papaya and 275 Mango Plants of the different varieties were planted in the campus and distributed to the farmers in the adopted villages.

The Heads of the Divisions, Project Coordinators, Scientists, Technical Officers, Administrative and the Supporting Staff of the Institute participated in the programme.

The programme was organized as a part of the “Bharat Ka Amrut Mahotsav” to commemorate 75 Years of India’s Independence.

(Source: ICAR-Indian Institute of Soil Science, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh)