With a view to generating job opportunities for the villagers of forest area through forests, production of tusser and lac is being increased in forests as per resolution of the Chief Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan.
Forest Minister Shri Sartaj Singh informed that programme of tusser cocoon rearing has been prepared for 17 thousand 500 hectare this year. Around 375 lakh cocoons will be reared from this. Besides, saplings will also be planted in five thousand hectare area under the forest sub-plan. He informed that tusser cocoon have been reared in 9,373 hectare against five thousand hectare and 42 lakh cocoons against 150 lakh target.Similarly, saplings were planted in 3,747 hectare against two thousand hectare target. As many as 5600 rural people were benefited last year. Around 17 thousand 500 families will be benefited this year.
Shri Sartaj Singh informed that under the forest sub-plan of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, nurseries of mulberry and silk sub-plan for silk production are being undertaken in the state. Under the sub-plan, nurseries for saplings to develop tusser like Arjun, Saja are being maintained in selected districts. Under the silk sub-plan, 50 districts have been selected in the State. However, works are being done in 14 districts including Balaghat, Betul, Dindori, Mandla, Seoni, Shahdol, Chhindwara, Guna, Katni, Panna, Rajgarh, Bhopal, Narsinghpur and Sagar.
Shri Singh informed that saplings of Arjun, Saja and others are being planted in 11 districts including Balaghat, Dindori, Jhabua, Mandla, Shahdol, Umaria, Chhindwara, Panna, Rajgarh and Sagar districts.
According to the Forest Minister, 15 nurseries will be established for lac production this year by imparting training to 1100 farmers. Last year, 920 farmers were imparted training after establishing 10 nurseries.