2 million trees to be planted in Nangarhar this spring

JALALABAD (Pajhwok): Some two million seedlings have been grown at government and private nurseries in eastern Nangarhar province for the upcoming spring tree plantation drive, an official said Monday.

Rafiullah Rahimzai, provincial Agriculture and Livestock Department head, told Pajhwok Afghan News in an interview that 400,000 seedlings had been prepared at governmental nurseries and approximately 1.6 million at private nurseries in the province.

The baby plants include fruit bearing, non-fruit and ornamental trees which would be sown in the upcoming months for greenery of the province, he said.

The more than two million of saplings would be planted on thousands of acres of land in Jalalabad city and in some districts during the upcoming campaign. “We would have fruit and non fruit gardens across the province.”

Rahimzai further said the seedlings would be planted in government departments, schools and public places free of charge.

Agricultural experts says Nangarhar climate well suits trees plantation and urge people to plant at least a single tree each for keeping protected their environment.

Attiqullah Abdani, a lecturer of agriculture faculty at the Nangarhar University, said in upcoming few days the weather would become ready to accept tree plantation.

However, a resident of Jalalabad, Inamullah, said every year hundreds of plants were planted in the province, but the campaigns had no good outcome because the trees were ignored after being sown.

pk/ma