Madhya Pradesh to Launch Fruit Orchard Scheme for SHG Women

The Madhya Pradesh government is launching a new plantation scheme called “Ek Bagiya Maa Ke Naam” from August 15, 2025. The goal is to economically support women from Self-Help Groups (SHGs) by helping them grow fruit orchards on their private land. This project will run under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA). It will be the first time that the state will use advanced technology, including mobile apps, satellite images, and drones, to manage such a plantation drive.

What is 'Ek Bagiya Maa Ke Naam'?

The scheme is designed to help rural women earn a steady income from fruit farming. The government will provide free saplings and financial assistance to cover key costs such as pit digging, fencing, and water storage. A 50,000-litre reservoir will be built for irrigation on each eligible plot. The orchards will be planted on land owned by SHG women. If a woman does not own land, she can use land belonging to her husband, father, father-in-law, or son, but only with written consent.

More than 30,000 women will be selected for the scheme. The selection process will happen only through a mobile app called “Ek Bagiya Maa Ke Naam”, developed by the Madhya Pradesh State Electronics Development Corporation Limited. No other way of applying or being selected will be accepted. Each development block in the state will select at least 100 women beneficiaries.

How Women Will Benefit

The women will be trained twice a year on how to manage their orchards. To support them in the field, the government will appoint one Krishi Sakhi for every 25 acres. These trained women will guide the beneficiaries on topics like organic fertilisers, pest control, irrigation, and intercropping (growing more than one crop together).

To make sure the land is suitable for fruit trees, the government will use SIPRI software. This tool will test the soil quality, climate, and water availability to recommend the best fruit species for that plot. If the land does not meet the required standards, the plantation will not proceed. A woman must have at least half an acre and no more than one acre of land to qualify.

The project will be carefully monitored. The entire process, from planting to growth, will be tracked using drones and satellite images. A digital dashboard will be created for real-time updates and supervision. Based on the performance of different areas, the state will reward the top three districts, ten best Janpad Panchayats, and twenty-five top Gram Panchayats.

Pilot projects have already taken place in villages like Bagh, Banda, Ghotiyadev, Pipariyapani, Jhaba, and Chikapoti in Dhar district. These trials helped the government test the system and prepare for the larger rollout.

Timeline and Implementation Plan

The timeline for the scheme is clearly defined:

• July 15: Final list of eligible women will be completed

• July 25: Land inspections and technical approvals will be done

• August 14: Pit digging, fencing, and water storage preparation will be finished

• August 15 to September 15: Plantation work will take place across the state

This campaign is more than just a plantation drive. It gives women from rural areas a new way to earn income from their own or family-owned land. It also brings transparency and scientific planning into rural development projects, using technology to ensure better outcomes.

Support usto keep independent environmental journalism alive in India.

Keep Reading

Indore Startup Swaaha takes the lead in making Amarnath Yatra eco-friendly

Amarnath Yatra: Tackling rising death toll from extreme weather events

Amarnath yatra pilgrims urinating in Sindh river: A threat to environment

Amarnath Yatra 2023: IMD operationalizes Banihal Doppler weather radar to detect high-impact weather events

Stay connected with Ground Report for underreported environmental stories.

Follow us onX,Instagram, andFacebook; share your thoughts at [email protected]; subscribe to our weekly newsletter for deep dives from the margins; join ourWhatsApp communityfor real-time updates; and catch our video reports on YouTube.

Your support amplifies voices too often overlooked—thank you for being part of the movement.