Nilgiris District Administration and Department of Horticulture (DoH) Launch Native Fruit Tree Revival Initiative

Key facts

• The Nilgiris district administration and the Department of Horticulture (DoH) have launched a project to revive and promote the cultivation of native fruit trees in the region.
• One acre of land at the pomological station in Coonoor has been specifically dedicated to the cultivation of native species such as wild figs, monkey fruit, wild guavas, and jamuns.
• The initiative focuses on the propagation of Eleocarpus tectorius, commonly known as Vikki fruits, alongside other native ornamental and flowering tree species found in the Nilgiris.
• District Collector Lakshmi Bhavya Tanneeru inaugurated the programme on June 17 and visited local orchards that cultivate peaches, plums, pears, grapes, oranges, and lemons.
• The DoH aims to increase local bird diversity through the planting of these native fruiting trees and provides guidance to farmers for the production of indigenous saplings.