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The objective of reforestation with fruit trees is to reduce hunger in rural communities in the country.
Last year, more than 1.5 million fruit trees were planted in India to restore a total of 1,553 hectares (equivalent to more than 2,000 football pitches) of land in six Indian states. One Tree Planted, the organization responsible for making the planting possible, has also built nurseries in strategic areas to reduce transport costs and improve the acclimatization of seedlings.
The goal of the project is to try to alleviate the hunger of people living in isolated rural farming communities, while restoring ecosystems through the establishment of agroforestry plantation systems. “As trees grow, they help alleviate hunger and poverty, while fighting pollution and climate change in rural India. To achieve this, our partners have planted a diverse mix of fruit tree species, such as guava, papaya, lemon, pomegranate, pineapple, plum, pear, jackfruit, apricot, banana and moringa, among others,” the organization said in a statement. statement.
Fruit trees that change lives
According to One Tree Planted, when combined with seasonal vegetables, a grove of 100 fruit trees provides nutritious meals and a sustainable income for a family of four, helping to reduce migration to urban areas.
Most areas targeted for plantations have low forest cover, few employment opportunities, food insecurity and low literacy rates. The project placed particular emphasis on widows and elderly women, groups that are extremely marginalized by society.
“As well as providing social benefits, the planted trees will provide food and shelter for insects, bees, small animals and birds. Biodiversity will also benefit from improved watershed health, through better water uptake (and therefore reduced runoff) during rainfall events. This will help keep the region’s rivers clean, stabilize the soil, filter rainwater and much more,” the organization adds.
Agroforestry system plantations have been spread across rural areas in six states of the country: Uttar Pradesh, Madya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttarakhand.
seedling nurseries
The organization has also established two nurseries in the country, designed and built to produce two million fruit trees per year. This new nursery capacity will benefit planting projects in every state.
A great idea that supports families and the planet in equal measure, worth emulating and replicating in every corner of the world where trees and food are needed.