Allcargo Group, through its CSR arm Avashya Foundation, plans to undertake 3 lakh plantations across 81 villages in Maharashtra during FY 2026–27 under Project Maitree. The initiative is expected to support livelihood opportunities for around 5,000 farmers and their families while promoting afforestation and reducing dependence on seasonal migration.
The programme covers Palghar, Raigad, Nashik and Amravati districts and combines plantation activities with community-based livelihood development.
Project Maitree to cover four Maharashtra districts
As part of the FY 2026–27 programme, around 3,00,000 saplings are being distributed across the four districts. In Palghar and Nashik, approximately 2,20,000 plants have been distributed to around 4,400 farmers. A further 30,000 plants have been distributed in Raigad and Karjat, benefiting about 600 farmers, while 50,000 plants have been planted in Amravati through a community-based model.
The plantations include fruit-bearing, timber and multipurpose species such as mango, cashew, teak, lemon, guava, custard apple, jackfruit and bamboo. The programme is intended to enable farmers to integrate plantation-based cultivation with their existing agricultural activities and develop productive assets over the longer term.
In Amravati, the community-based plantation model is designed to involve the wider village population in plantation activities, with the aim of encouraging collective participation in environmental conservation.
Focus on livelihood diversification and seasonal migration
Project Maitree is structured around the use of plantations as potential long-term livelihood assets. As fruit-bearing and multipurpose trees mature, participating households may generate additional income from their produce, while timber and other species can contribute to the economic value of cultivated land over time.
The programme also aims to create livelihood opportunities closer to villages, potentially reducing reliance on seasonal migration for income.
Commenting on the initiative, Dr. Nilratan Shende, Head – CSR, Allcargo Group, said, “Project Maitree is built on the belief that environmental conservation and livelihood creation can reinforce each other. By enabling farmers to develop productive plantation assets alongside their existing agricultural activities, we aim to create opportunities for additional income while strengthening the ecological resilience of rural communities. This year’s expansion will help us deepen that impact across more villages and households.”
Implementation across 81 villages
The FY 2026–27 programme will be implemented with support from Digant Swaraj Foundation, Light of Life Trust and Khoj Foundation. The organisations will support community mobilisation, plantation planning, sapling distribution, training and field-level monitoring.
According to Allcargo Group, Project Maitree has previously facilitated the plantation of more than 1.6 million trees across Maharashtra. The addition of another 3 lakh plantations in FY 2026–27 is intended to extend the programme’s focus on environmental conservation, livelihood diversification and community participation.
Through the latest phase, the company is continuing a plantation-based model that combines environmental activities with potential income-generating opportunities for rural and tribal communities.
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