Govt to Set up ‘Matri Van’ in about 1 acre of Land; 140 crore Saplings by March 2025

Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare and Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chouhan planted saplings on Thursday at IARI Campus PUSA as a part of the campaign #एक_पेड़_मां_के_नाम #Plant4Mother campaign. Chouhan informed that the Ministry will set up ‘Matri Van’ in about 1 acre of land. He informed that all subordinate offices of DA&FW, ICAR institutions, CAUs, KVKs and SAUs in the country also organized a similar tree plantation program at their respective places at same time.

He also informed that over 800 institutions under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare participated, and it is expected that between 3,000-4,000 saplings will be planted during the event, an official release said. The Union Minister said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Global Campaign #एक_पेड़_मां_के_नाम #Plant4Mother on the occasion of World Environment Day, on June 5, 2024.

Chouhan requested all officers/employees and school students present during the occasion to participate in the movement and pay their respect to their mother and Mother Earth by planting trees. As part of the Global Campaign, the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change is making efforts to ensure that 80 crore saplings are planted across the country by September 2024 and 140 crore saplings by March 2025.

Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change started the tree plantation activity at Asola Bhati Wildlife Sanctuary on June 20, 2024, wherein individuals planted trees in honour of their mothers. Planting trees also fulfills Mission LiFE purpose launched by the Government which is a mass movement for an environmentally conscious Lifestyle.

In agriculture, growing trees is an important step to achieve sustainable farming. Trees help to improve farm productivity by improving the soil, and water quality and increasing biodiversity. Trees also provide additional income sources for the farmers from the timber and non-timber products. The Campaign has immense potential for preventing and reversing land degradation and desertification.

Minister of State Ramnath Thakur, Secretary DARE & DG ICAR, Dr. Himanshu Pathak, around 200 officers/staff of the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare and Rural Development and school students were also present in the event.