KHULNA, July 6: Saplings for plantation are being distributed by the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) of the Khulna Region in four districts.
A total of 93,945 saplings have been distributed by June 30, at least 48 per cent, according to DAE Khulna Region.
The DAE officials said that the government has set a target to distribute 1, 95,900 saplings in the Khulna Agriculture Region, which covers Khulna, Bagerhat, Satkhira and Narail.
According to DAE data until June 30, a total of 8,680 saplings, 13 per cent, were distributed, although the distribution target was set at 67,950 saplings in Khulna.
In Bagerhat, 48,155 saplings were distributed, 86 per cent, and the distribution target were set up 56,300; In Satkhira, a total of 37,110 saplings were distributed, 76 per cent, while the distribution target was 48,600; and in Narail, target distribution of 23,050 saplings was set up.
Earlier, the government had announced an agro-incentive package worth Tk 53.66 crore for a nationwide tree plantation programme under the agricultural rehabilitation assistance sector in the current fiscal year, aiming to distribute 16.28 lakh saplings free of cost across the country.
The initiative is part of the current government's election pledge under Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to plant 25 crore trees over the next five years.
Under the programme, a total of 16.28 lakh fruit-bearing, timber and medicinal plant saplings, along with organic fertiliser, bamboo stakes and other necessary inputs, will be distributed free of charge among farmers in all 64 districts.
The information was disclosed in a recent government notification issued by the Inputs-2 Wing of the Ministry of Agriculture.
The programme has categorised saplings into four groups, with assistance costs fixed according to species. Each sapling will be accompanied by 30 kilograms of organic manure and one bamboo stake.
Under Category-1, each coconut sapling will involve a total expenditure of Tk 410, including Tk 160 for the sapling, Tk 120 for organic manure, Tk 50 for a bamboo stake, Tk 48 for transportation and Tk 32 for ancillary expenses.
Category-2 includes mango, litchi, sapodilla, custard apple, palmyra palm, jackfruit, tamarind and pomelo saplings. The total expenditure for each sapling under this category has been fixed at Tk 310.
Category-3 covers species such as orange, olive and Bengal currant, with a total expenditure of Tk 290 per sapling.
Category-4 includes species such as arjun, mahogany, areca nut, hog plum, Indian gooseberry, neem, black plum, bahera, wood apple, rain tree, date palm and almond. The expenditure for each sapling under this category has been fixed at Tk 240.
The programme will also distribute 16.28 lakh bamboo stakes and a total of 48,840 metric tonnes of organic manure across the country.
To ensure transparency, the government has imposed a number of strict conditions in implementing the programme.
Md Rafiqul Islam, Additional Director of Khulna DAE, said each farmer or institution is receiving five saplings. The saplings may be planted in homesteads, fallow lands, canal banks, roadsides, educational institutions, religious establishments and other vacant spaces.
He said materials are being distributed through master rolls after verifying beneficiaries' photo-bearing agricultural cards, national identity card numbers and mobile phone numbers.
“Every district and upazila-level office of the DAE is working on the programme,” he said.
Replying to a question, sapling distribution in Narail will begin within one or two days.
