UP Forest Department Launches 'Sahjan Bhandara' to Boost Nutrition and Environment Under Van Mahotsav 2025

By A Staff Reporter

Lucknow | In a pioneering move blending environmental conservation with public health, the Uttar Pradesh Forest Department has launched a state-wide campaign titled “Sahjan Bhandara” under the Van Mahotsav 2025 celebrations. The initiative promotes the widespread plantation of Sahjan trees — commonly known as Moringa or Drumstick — to combat malnutrition and boost rural incomes.

Sahjan is widely recognized as a superfood, rich in protein, vitamins A and C, iron, calcium, and antioxidants. Its leaves, flowers, and pods are consumed widely for their nutritional and medicinal benefits. The Forest Department’s campaign seeks to harness this potential by encouraging the plantation of Sahjan trees across the state, especially among rural households and program beneficiaries.

Under the scheme, beneficiaries of government welfare programs such as the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), Chief Minister Housing Scheme, and Zero Poverty programs are being urged to plant at least two Sahjan trees each. The tree's fast growth, low maintenance requirements, and minimal water dependency make it particularly suitable for the climate and resource conditions of rural Uttar Pradesh.