More than 15 year back, travelling in a village, I was told that 5 fruit bearing trees could provide sustenance to a poor family. I was wondering why industries plant tall pollution tolerant species trees in the name of when one could grow fruit orchard in the green belt around the industries, which is a mandatory requirement under Environment Clearance. There is a futile feeling that fruit orchard will obstruct the functioning and safety of plant or township.
There are added opportunities of economic integration to involve employees cooperative or NGOs or local community group, which will deploy the local people for maintaining the fruit orchard and selling the fruits and will create livelihood opportunities. This could be the best opportunity for social, environmental and economic integration with the local economy and communities.
Reliance industries was probably the first to do it in the green belt area and became one of the biggest mango producer.
Reliance, Essar and Sanghi groups growing mango on barren land
There are added opportunities of economic integration to involve employees cooperative or NGOs or local community group, which will deploy the local people for maintaining the fruit orchard and selling the fruits and will create livelihood opportunities. This could be the best opportunity for social, environmental and economic integration with the local economy and communities.
Reliance industries was probably the first to do it in the green belt area and became one of the biggest mango producer.
Reliance, Essar and Sanghi groups growing mango on barren land
Reliance Industries, Essar Group and Sanghi Industries, which are better known for their largest single-location refineries and cement plant, are also among the country's leading mango producers.
It's not just that they opted for mango plantation instead of low-maintenance trees to meet their commitment for creating a green belt around their plants, but they are constantly working on innovative practices to improve productivity and quality. In fact, mangoes from some of the largest industrial houses' orchards are organic.
Reliance Industries, which grows 127 varieties of mango in a 600-acre green belt at its Jamnagar refinery complex, looks to beat Israel and Brazil in productivity, a top company official said. These countries produce 8-10 tonnes of mango per acre against India's average of 3-4 tonnes.
Reliance has named its mango orchard Dhirubhai Ambani Lakhibag Amrayee after a mango grove Mughal Emperor Akbar created in the 16th century. Akbar had planted 1 lakh mango trees in the estate he called Lakhibag at Darbhanga in Bihar; the Ambani Lakhibag has more than 1,38,000 trees.
Parimal Nathwani, group president (corporate affairs) at Reliance Industries, says the company's Jamnagar mango will herald a revolution in Indian horticulture.
Reliance encourages farmers to visit its orchard and learn from its innovative practices. It also distributes 1 lakh free saplings to farmers every year, says Nathwani, who was a close confidant of Dhirubhai Ambani.
The Ruias of Essar Group, meanwhile, produced 80 tonnes of mango last season compared with less than seven tonnes in 2009. The group plans to plant 12,000 more trees over 60 acres of additional land surrounding its Vadinar refinery in Jamnagar. A company spokesperson said Essar Agrotech has applied for Global GAP certification for exports.
What is noteworthy is that these firms have their orchards in not-so-friendly areas. Alok Sanghi of Sanghi Industries, which operates one of the world's largest single-stream cement plants in Kutch district, says the group decided to create a mango orchard to showcase that even sweet mango can be grown in an arid region like coastal Kutch.
This is happening. Imagine having a forest full of fruit trees.
This is happening. Imagine having a forest full of fruit trees.
Dear Sir, I visited Jamnagar Refinery Site in Jan 1997, on belalf of a construction co who were looking to take part in the project.
ReplyDeleteThus I am familiar with the Environment at that point of time.I also know about the LakhiBhag of the Complex and their contribution to the greening of the area.
In fact when my friends who worked there had shown me photograph ,I used admire the wonderful visionary apprroach of Sh.Dhirubhai Ambani in creating an oasis in desert like conditions which existed about 25 years ago.
We also need to compliment Sh Mukesh Ambani and his team to create and maintain the facility.
I wanted to know how the water demand was met in this place, I can only visualise De-Sal plants, as is done in mid east countries.
I have been associated with International Water Management Co LIKE Bi Water and TCE Israelin the active phase of my life.
Now my interest is of academic nature only, to inform myself on this aspect.
would be obliged if basic information is available.Regards.