PRAYAGRAJ, Oct. 3 -- Around 350 rural women in Prayagraj will be trained to raise seedlings in nurseries set up in their home courtyards. This initiative aims to expand green cover, promote eco-friendly farming practices and provide an additional source of income by selling saplings to local farmers.

The horticulture department is implementing the initiative under the Integrated Horticulture Development Mission for women associated with self-help groups (SHGs). The women will be trained as 'Nursery Sakhis' to raise seedlings in specialised pro-trays, with training kits and trays provided free of cost, officials said.

The first batch of 70 women has completed training at the Horticultural Research and Training Centre in Khusro Bagh. They...