Mon Jun 23 13:40:03 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary of the text followed by a news article rewritten from the information provided:
**Summary:**
The Forest Department in Pudukottai, Tamil Nadu, India, is aiming to raise over 500,000 tree seedlings this financial year as part of the Green Tamil Nadu Mission. These seedlings, encompassing varieties like casuarina, teak, and red sanders, will be given to farmers free of charge to increase tree cover on farmlands, boost farmer income, and complement agricultural crops. The seedlings will be raised in forest nurseries and distributed before the northeast monsoon season. The mission aims to develop institutional marketing linkages for tree growers to improve income.
**News Article:**
**Pudukottai Forest Department to Distribute 5 Lakh Free Seedlings to Farmers Under Green Tamil Nadu Mission**
**Pudukottai, June 23, 2025** – The Forest Department in Pudukottai district has launched an ambitious initiative to distribute over five lakh tree seedlings to farmers free of cost, as part of the Green Tamil Nadu Mission. The project aims to boost tree cover outside forest areas, enhance farmer income, and promote sustainable agricultural practices.
The “range-wise” targets have been assigned to field-level officials across the district’s six forest ranges: Pudukottai, Keeranur, Ponnamaravathy, Aranthangi, Tirumayam, Forest Extension-I, and Forest Extension-II. The Forest Extension ranges are tasked with raising over one lakh seedlings each. Other ranges have targets varying between 40,000 and 60,000 seedlings.
Preliminary work, including soil collection and the preparation of mother beds, has already begun at forest department nurseries in Machuvadi, Thoppukollai, Kurumbur, and Vengalamedu.
The department plans to raise a diverse range of tree species, including casuarina, teak, mahagani, red sanders, illupai, pungan, and naaval. The seedlings are expected to be ready for distribution before the onset of the northeast monsoon, allowing farmers to plant them during October and November.
“The Green Tamil Nadu Mission aims to expand tree cover on farmlands and develop strong institutional marketing linkages for tree growers,” stated a source within the Forest Department. “By providing free seedlings, we are empowering farmers to diversify their income streams and contribute to a greener environment.”
The department also intends to distribute seedlings to government departments, institutions, and local bodies in need, furthering the reach of the Green Tamil Nadu Mission.
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