The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Rangpur

Boosting of nurseries in the private sector has brought prosperity to the rural people and it has been contributing positively in alleviating poverty in the northern region in recent years.

The expanding private sector nursery business has now become one of the most profitable ventures with over 50,000 private sector nurseries of different sizes have grown spreading over the entire region, officials said.

The growth of nurseries has been making the government's participatory social afforestation programme successful on the one hand and alleviating poverty and empowering women on the other during the last one and a half decades.

Officials said, the highest ever number of saplings including fruits and medicinal plants and timber grown in the nurseries are expected to be selling this year as the tree plantation drive has been nearing completion with the maximum achievements. According to an estimate, over 40,000 families have changed their lot by achieving self-reliance through nursery business and, in most cases, women of the economically backward families, are involved with the business. Concerned sources said the tree plantation drive has turned into one of the most successful social movements in the region following implementation of various steps by the government, NGOs, and professional bodies in recent years. They said over four crore fruit-bearing and medicinal plants and timber saplings are being planted annually in the region, resulting in faster growth of nurseries in the private sector.

Some 22,000 families, who collected high-valued fruit saplings from the private sector nursery owners, also achieved their complete economic self-reliance during the period and their number has been increasing satisfactorily.

They said an estimated number of about five crore saplings of different variety plants including timber, fruit, medicinal trees are expected to be planted this year in the region under the extensive tree plantation programme this year.

Besides the private sector initiatives, different government departments and NGOs are also planting a huge number of saplings including Neem, coconut, plum and cane.

The Forest Department and the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) have been distributing huge amount of saplings among the people and different institutions every year.

Besides, Local Government Engineering Department (LGED), Water Development Board (WDB), district and upazila administrations, Police, BDR, different non-government and voluntary organisations are also planting saplings.