The agriculture department has launched a field-level drive across the country to destroy akashmoni (acacia) and eucalyptus saplings. The work began after a ban by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and instructions from the Ministry of Agriculture.

Because these trees have been identified as harmful to the environment and soil, producing, planting and selling their saplings has been banned by the government. Field staff of the agriculture department are destroying the saplings at nurseries and government institutions, with an incentive of Tk 4 paid for each one. Nursery owners are also pledging not to raise these saplings again. To protect biodiversity, the Ministry of Agriculture is distributing free saplings of coconut, mango, jackfruit, neem, palmyra and other native trees in place of these invasive species.

On 15 May this year, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change issued a notification banning the raising, planting and sale of eucalyptus and akashmoni saplings at government, private and individual levels.

Figures from the field service wing of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) show there are 2,20,61,077 akashmoni and eucalyptus saplings across the country: 79,44,484 akashmoni and 1,41,16,593 eucalyptus.

The drive has begun in 430 upazilas of 49 districts. By Wednesday (9 July), 69,45,520 saplings had been destroyed in 161 upazilas. Destruction is partly done in 42 upazilas, which have 24,10,770 saplings, and 1,09,48,231 saplings remain to be destroyed in the remaining 227 upazilas.

Farmers are being paid an incentive of Tk 4 for each sapling destroyed, and about Tk 3.75 crore has been distributed so far. At the same time the Ministry of Agriculture has given farmers 33 lakh native fruit and timber saplings, including coconut, mango, jackfruit, neem and palmyra, free of charge.

Md Obaidur Rahman Mondal, director of the DAE's field service wing, said: "We are identifying and destroying akashmoni and eucalyptus in the field. At the same time, saplings of trees that suit the local environment and keep the soil healthy are being supplied to farmers free. Wherever eucalyptus or akashmoni saplings are produced or marketed, the necessary action will be taken under government policy. We are making sure nobody produces these saplings in future."

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.