AP Targets 2.5 Crore Seed Balls for Afforestation Drive
Addressing an awareness programme on seed ball preparation at the Forest Department office in Guntur, he said the state government had set a target of preparing 2.5 crore seed balls across Andhra Pradesh.
Vijayawada:Chief conservator of forests Srinivas Reddy on Saturday called for a large-scale public movement to promote ecological restoration through preparation of seed balls as part of Andhra Pradesh’s afforestation and climate resilience efforts.
Addressing an awareness programme on seed ball preparation at the Forest Department office in Guntur, he said the state government had set a target of preparing 2.5 crore seed balls across Andhra Pradesh.
Divisional forest officers and social forestry officials from Bapatla, Prakasam, Guntur, Rayachoti, Annamayya, Nellore and Tirupati districts attended the programme along with representatives of the Green Climate Team NGO.
Srinivas Reddy stressed the importance of collecting indigenous forest seeds and directed officials to begin seed collection drives from Monday in identified regions.
He said priority should be given to medicinal plants and tree species that provide nesting habitats for birds to strengthen biodiversity and ecological balance.
Green Climate Team founder-secretary J.V. Ratnam explained the process of preparing seed balls using indigenous cow dung and soil.
He said the mixture should contain 60 to 70 per cent cow dung and 30 to 40 per cent soil, with around three seeds placed in each 75-150 gram seed ball depending on seed size.