GOVERNMENT OF ANDHRA PRADESH
(FOREST
DEPARTMENT)
Rc.No.42120/2004/U2
Date: 28.11.2004
|
Office
of the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests
Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad
|
SRI
S.K. DAS, IFS.,
PRINCIPAL CHIEF CONSERVATOR OF FORESTS
CIRCULAR No. 6/2004/U2
Sub: Andhra Pradesh Forest Department - Programme to alleviate
the
poverty of the rural poor - Planting
in the village homesteads
particularly those of the weaker sections
with high value grafts -
Certain guidelines - issued.
The Forestry Projects aim at alleviation of the rural poverty
through sustainable management of forests.
In this regard, several measures have been taken up to
develop the forests with the idea to manipulate the composition
of the existing forests in order to generate income and employment
to the local community.
The subject of raising high value useful species in the
homesteads of all the villagers in the 8000 forest fringe villages
(approximately) has been discussed for quite some time. The field
level functionaries have been requested to select a few villages
of the weaker sections to start with. In this regard, the Conservators of Forests
and the Divisional Forest Officers (Territorial)/(Planning &
Extension)/(Wildlife) have been requesting for clarifications
on different issues from time to time.
It is, therefore, considered necessary to issue clear guidelines
as described below so that the programme can be implemented properly
within the time frame.
(1) The forest fringe village where the VSS is in existence
should be selected.
Preference should be given to a village of weaker
section like Tribals/SCs
to start with and where the VSS has been functioning quite successfully.
(2) Once the village is selected the number of families
should be enumerated
and the number of
planting points in each homestead
be assessed.
(3)
In the beginning itself the villagers should be told about the
programme i.e. supply of high value graft seedlings and useful
species like Drumsticks, Papaya, Banana etc. free of cost to them
for planting in their homesteads with the idea that the individual
family would get the benefit within a short time.
(4) Once the choice of species for each individual
family is finalised with the
number
of planting points, a
general discussion should be held among
the villagers for digging the pits of the size of 45 x
45 x 45 cm3 and keep 1/2 cft of dry cow dung powder
for each pit ready. The department should supply 100 grams of SSP
for each planting point.
(5) The choice of
seedlings may be restricted to following –
(a) Grafts:-Mango, Usiri,
Guava, Chinta etc
(b) Non-Graft:-Day-to-day useful species Drumstick
(Munaga), Papaya
(Boppai) Banana (Arati), Lemon lime
Care should be taken to see that Banana is planted
where waste water
flows in
each homestead.
(6)
Funds flow for this project will be from SGRY, FDA (Entry Point Activity) and CFM Projects. The Divisional Forest
Officers (Territorial)/(Planning
& Extension)/(Wildlife) are in charge of implementation of
this project. The Conservators of Forests/Divisional Forest Officers
are requested to note that
in no time there will be any problem to adequate funding of this project.
If any of the officers faces any problem
in this regard he/she should
immediately contact the concerned officers (Chief
Conservator of Forests
(SF)/Chief
Conservator of Forests (CFM)/Chief Conservator of Forests
(FDA)/Additional Principal Chief Conservators of
Forests/Principal
Chief Conservator of Forests.
(7) Once all the homesteads are covered by planting with
the species as
described in para - 5 (a) & (b) we should try
to find out whether any
community land is available for taking up planting
with valuable
indigenous NTFP/Non-NTFP species in order to create
a bio-aesthetic
plantation (Karthika Vanam) (as discussed in the Circular
No.3/2003/U.1)
This should be taken
up only when the villagers/VSS/Panchayat
give full support to this programme. Care should also be taken to see that the grazing
field is not totally covered by the planting programme; otherwise
our programme will create some other problem for the villagers.
It should be mentioned here that the intention
is not only to cover the 8000
forest fringe villages as mentioned in above para but also to cover all the villages in our State (29,000 villages
in the State)in due course, but our first target is the forest
fringe villages. This programme should be completed by
December 2005. After covering the forest fringe villages,
a review will be made and the decision taken in consultation with
the Government for the other villages.
The
Conservators of Forests / Divisional Forest officers are requested
to make a detailed exercise with their field level functionaries
and assess the requirement of grafts village-wise and see that
supply of grafts by developing sufficient number in our
nurseries and procurement from Horticulture Department
is made in time every month so that the planting programme can
be taken up all the time of the year without any interruption.
This programme, if implemented properly will not only create
an element of food security to the children of our villagers,
improve the aesthetic aspect of the rural landscape but also increase the confidence
of the villagers in the functioning of the Forest Department enormously.
Sd/- (S.K. DAS)
PRINCIPAL
CHIEF CONSERVATOR OF FORESTS
To
All
the Conservators of Forests (Territorial)/(Planning & Extension)/(Wildlife)
All
the Divisional Forest Officers (Terrirorial)/(Planning & Extension)/(Wildlife)
Copy to all the Additional
Principal Chief Conservators of Forests/Chief Conservators of
Forests for information and necessary action.
Copy to Circular Stock
file.
//t.c.b.o.//
Superintendent