Feature

Environment Management through Horticultural Activities

Posted on 21 January, 2010 | Tags: Green Drive

GSFC has developed enormous green belt area by planting huge number of various types of trees within its premises and maintaining as environment control measure. For improvement as well as expansions of green belt the company has selected specific trees like banyan, pipal, neem for plantation due to their long life, coverage of large area and having better earth bounding.

 

Gujarat State Fertilizers and Chemicals Limited (GSFC) started Nursery activity right from the beginning to mind gardening interest of urban population of Vadodara and to develop Fertilizernagar Complex under corporate activity being handled by Horticulture Department, ie main nursery at Fertilizernagar Gate measuring eight acres and booth located near highway measuring one acre land. The major nursery activities include propagation and multiplication of various plants from the available mother stock; introduction of new varieties as per requirements; to fulfill requirement of own corporate activities; to motivate urban garden lovers for gardening and kitchen gardening by supplying improved varieties of ornamental, flowering, road side and other attractive plants along with regular maintenance of Nursery and Booth, by watering, weeding, spraying of pesticides etc.

Green Plantations
GSFC has developed massive green belt area by planting large number of various types of trees within premises and maintaining as environment control measure. For improvement as well as expansions of green belt the company has selected specific trees like banyan, pipal, neem, etc for plantation due to their long life, coverage of large area and having better earth bounding and sustain very well against earthquakes, cyclones, etc as compared to other trees. Banyan and pipal return maximum oxygen and both have the high religious values that Lord Vishnu is staying in these trees. Neem tree has very high medicinal values providing good and cool shading.
GSFC has developed green vegetation on chalk heap and surrounding basement area. On slope of chalk heap dhaman grass and subabul plants have been grown in about 10 acres area.  Sprinklers/ rainguns have been installed for keeping 'Evergreen' Chalk heap throughout the year. At the top of the heap, a garden has been developed by incorporating different ornamental, flowering and medicinal plants etc with systematic layout. A unique lotus pond garden is developed in battery limit area by planting lawns, various ornamental and flowering plants. The garden also provides accommodation to ducks.
GSFC has developed and maintained various gardens measuring about 2.0 lakhs Sq meters in entire complex not only to beatify but also as environment control measure. Approximate 37 percent of GSFC complex is covered under green belt and vegetation. These green belts are natural homes of a variety of birds including peacock. To regularly water the plantations and gardens Micro Irrigation System is applied and almost all types of these systems are installed. In these manner thousands liters of water is saved thus providing good demonstration of hi-tech agriculture for farmers and garden lovers.

Ecology Conservation
With a view to encourage urban population about the greenery and ecological balance, company sponsored fruit, flower and vegetable shows as well as exhibitions in association with Baroda Agri-Horti Committee and Horticulture Department of Government of Gujarat and Society for clean environment, 'SOCLEEN'. The company has won numerous awards for best maintenance of gardens among all public and private sectors gardens.
Over and above for improvement of environment GSFC is supplying various plants on complimentary basis to the surrounding villages from the nursery. For utilization of biomass GSFC have applied two-way systems including Composting and Briqueting. Suitable biomass is used for good quality composting for fulfilling requirement of compost for gardens, plantations and agro farms. Biomass, which are not suitable for composting is utilizing for briqueting to save energy.

- P M Sutaria is Senior Manager, Agro Development and Agro Services Department with GSFC Ltd
Email: pmsutaria@gsfcltd.com