DHARAN: The Ramdhuni-based Sub-Division Forest Office of Sunsari has been producing and distributing over 35,000 seedlings of varieties of species for free of cost every year.
The seedlings are of cash crops, flowers, fruits and forest trees. The Office has recorded increasing rise in demand of seedlings produced in the nursery, which had come into operation four years back. According to forest assistant at Ramdhuni Sub-Division Forest Office, Kaji Acharya, various species of seedlings such as khayar, jacaranda, lemon, sisau, wood apple, guava and tejpat are produced in the nursery.
He said that some seedlings were produced this year, while some are perennial seedlings. As the Office is located near the Ramdhuni Temple, devotees visiting the shrine are highly likely to have the seedlings.
Forest assistant Acharya further shared that the saplings produced in Ramdhuni reach various districts across the country and beyond border because we have religious tourists from India as well. The demand for seedlings is high especially in June to August.
General public, community forests and various organizations are customers of the nursery. He, however, said the saplings for agricultural purposes were not produced but only those suitable species which are allowed to be planted in forest areas as well.
For two to four saplings, no document is required for anyone willing to have these. However, institutional purpose- of over four samplings- recommendation from the concerned ward is imperative. Similarly, those willing to receive over 50 saplings need to submit application, a copy of citizenship and landownership certificate, according to Acharya.
In addition to the production and distribution of plants, the Office has been providing technical assistance to the community forest and facilitating in pruning and felling. Regular patrols in the national forest area and the activities of forest user groups are also its functions.
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