Bangalore: Six crore saplings will be planted all over the State over a period of eight years under the afforestation programme being jointly implemented by the Government and Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC).

Minister for Forests and Environment C. Chennigappa said after chairing a review meeting of the JBIC afforestation programme here on Monday that the bank had lent Rs. 750 crore for the second phase. Every year 1.6 crore saplings would be distributed to farmers through village forest committees.

Mr. Chennigappa said 25,000 saplings would be supplied to the committees and they would distribute them to farmers. The saplings would be planted on barren land and to replace trees felled in forests. The Government would also invest Rs. 50 crore in the project. Nurseries would be raised and maintained by over 3,000 village forest committees. Each farmer would get three saplings.

He said income-generating activities for landless and agricultural labourers would be introduced. A revolving fund with a maximum limit of Rs. 15,000 would be established for each Stree Shakti group, depending upon its involvement in the programme. Members would be trained for 15 days every year in raising nurseries. Tours would be organised for them both in the country and abroad.

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