“The Punjab Government is providing financial assistance to the tune of 50 percent to the farming community for planting saplings in their fields. The farmers opting for planting saplings would be eligible for availing benefits under the scheme.”Disclosing this here today, the Forest Minister, Punjab, Mr. Sadhu Singh Dharamsot said that the State Government is providing 50 financial assistance (Subsidy) to the farmers of the state under ‘Submission On Agroforestry’ for increasing forest cover. He also said that the interested farmers can avail the financial assistance of 50 percent by planting saplings in their fields in accordance with the already fixed expenditure. Mr. Dharamsot also said that as per the scheme, the assistance of 50 percent would be provided to the farmers on the basis of the number of living saplings planted in their fields and the assistance would be transferred online into their bank accounts linked with their Aadhar Numbers. He also informed that the assistance would be given in a span of 4 years in the ratio of 40:20:20:20. The scheme has been implemented in 12581 villages of the State.The minister further divulged that Punjab is numero uno across the entire country in terms of Agro-Forestry and the Forest Department during the year 2018-2019 under the ‘Submission On Agro-Forestry’ scheme, has provided 50 percent financial assistance to 3389 farmers of the State. During the said period, the assistance of Rs. 292.21 lakh has been provided on planting 3529520 saplings in the 5270.55 hectare area. Dharamsot also elaborated that the State Government is working tirelessly under various schemes for increasing the forest cover. Exhorting the people of Punjab to go in for planting more and more saplings, the minister added that the people can get the saplings free of cost from their nearby Government Nursery as per their need and choicest place.