Bihar’s government has launched the Green Villages Incentive Scheme on 24 June 2025, aiming to boost afforestation and combat climate change. The initiative offers financial incentives to farmers and villagers for planting and maintaining trees on private and community lands. Targeting 17% green cover, the scheme promotes sustainable practices, enhances rural incomes, and strengthens environmental resilience across the state.
Bihar Unveils Ambitious Tree-Planting Scheme to Boost Green Cover
On 24 June 2025, the Bihar government rolled out the Green Villages Incentive Scheme, a transformative initiative designed to enhance the state’s green cover and promote sustainable development. The program, launched by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, incentivizes farmers and rural communities to plant and nurture trees on private and non-forest lands, aligning with Bihar’s goal of achieving 17% forest cover by 2030.
Under the scheme, participants receive financial assistance for planting trees, with subsidies covering up to 75% of the costs for saplings, maintenance, and care for the first three years. The initiative builds on the success of earlier programs like the Hariyali Mission, which saw over 17 crore trees planted by 2016, and Mission 5.0 Plantation, which targeted 5 crore saplings in 2021-22.
The Green Villages scheme focuses on agroforestry, encouraging farmers to integrate trees like mango, guava, and teak into their farmlands. For every tree planted and maintained for three years, participants can receive an honorarium, with additional incentives if the trees survive for a decade or more. The Department of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (EFCC) will provide high-quality saplings through its nurseries, ensuring species suited to Bihar’s soil and climate conditions.
A key feature of the scheme is community participation. Village heads, local volunteers, and Jeevika women’s groups will collaborate with forest and revenue officials to monitor sapling survival rates. The government has allocated funds to support 10 crore saplings in the first phase, with plans to expand the program based on initial outcomes. Rural development bodies and NGOs are also roped in to ensure widespread adoption.
The initiative addresses Bihar’s environmental challenges, including deforestation due to urbanization and erratic rainfall patterns. By increasing green cover, the state aims to improve air quality, enhance biodiversity, and mitigate climate change impacts. The scheme also promises economic benefits, as agroforestry can boost farmers’ incomes through timber, fruit, and other tree-based products.
To ensure transparency, the government has introduced a digital portal under the Horticulture Department (horticulture.bihar.gov.in) for online applications and tracking. Farmers can register, access subsidies, and receive guidance on tree species and maintenance. The scheme has already garnered enthusiasm, with thousands of farmers applying within days of the launch.
Environmentalists have praised the initiative but emphasized the need for robust monitoring to prevent misuse of funds and ensure sapling survival. Past programs faced challenges like inadequate maintenance and low survival rates, which the government aims to address through stricter oversight and community-driven accountability.
The Green Villages Incentive Scheme is part of a broader vision to make Bihar a leader in sustainable development. By empowering rural communities and promoting eco-friendly practices, the state is taking a significant step toward environmental resilience and economic prosperity.
Disclaimer: This article is based on information from official announcements, government websites, and recent reports on Bihar’s afforestation efforts. Data is sourced from credible platforms like the Times of India and horticulture.bihar.gov.in. Readers are advised to verify details through official channels for the latest updates.