Art of replacing old mango trees

Statesman News Service

MALDA, May 23: Nearly 50 mango farmers of Malda are being trained in Kalyani Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswa Vidyalaya about how to replace over 80-years old mango trees. The training camp is being held under the guidance of the National Horticulture Mission. The NHM has organised the camp in order to boost mango cultivation through new trees and give a new dimension to the export of mangoes. The NHM has also allotted huge funds for development of mango cultivation in this region. After selecting 50 owners of over 80-year-old mango trees, the district horticulture department has selected 1200-hectare lands where such trees would be replaced. For this project, the NHM has allotted Rs 10,000 for each hectare of land to cut down old trees and for plantation of new trees. To minimise losses, the NHM has been eyeing the orchard’s land that may reap profits for it. After selling the branches and woods of the old trees, the owner of the orchards will get huge money. After plantation, the mango cultivators can easily use the land for cultivation of vegetables for few years and can also earn profit till maturity of the new mango trees. Earlier, the new mango orchards were being used for mulberry plantation.