Spotlight

New Delhi, 23 January 2007

NATIONAL MISSION TO PROMOTE BAMBOO CROP

NEW DELHI, January 24 (INFA): A Centrally-sponsored scheme to harness the potential bamboo crop in the country has been launched by the Department of Agriculture and Cooperation (DAC) in the Union Ministry of Agriculture. It is called the National Bamboo Mission. A sum of Rs.568.23 crore has been earmarked for the scheme for the Eleventh Five Year Plan, with one hundred per cent support of the Central Government.

Bamboo is a versatile and useful group of plants, capable of providing ecological, economic and livelihood security to people.  As per estimates, 8.96 million hectare forest area of the country contains bamboo amounting to 12.8 per cent of the forest cover. The country has the largest bamboo forests in the world.  Two-third of the growing stock of the bamboo in India is available in the north-eastern States.

India ranks second in the world in bamboo diversity with 136 species, while China with 300 species is leading in genetic diversity of bamboo.  Out of this, 58 species belonging to 10 genera are found in the north-eastern region.

The objectives of the NBM are to promote holistic growth of the bamboo sector through area-based regionally differentiated strategies; to increase the coverage of area under bamboo in potential areas; with appropriate varieties to enhance yields; to promote post felling management, processing and marketing.

It is also intended to promote bamboo shoots as nutritional supplement; to establish convergence and synergy among stake-holders for development of bamboo and bamboo- based products; to promote, develop and disseminate technologies; to generate employment opportunities for skilled and unskilled persons, especially unemployed youths.

The interventions for addressing the four major areas of bamboo development viz research, plantation development, post-felling management and marketing will vary among States and regions.

A mix of either and/or cooperatives, self-help groups, incorporated companies, individual entrepreneurs, State Government undertakings or any agency recognized for the purpose will be involved for ensuring proper delivery. The mission activities would be undertaken on the basis of properly identified compact areas to facilitate development of requisite infrastructure and intensive management.

For achieving the objectives of the mission it will be necessary for the States to remove restrictions coming in the way of development of bamboo, including amendment of the State Transit Rules under Indian Forest Act, 1927 to facilitate cultivation, felling and transport of bamboo and bamboo-based products.

Planting material will be arranged under the National Bamboo Mission for two categories of areas viz.  forest areas and non-forest areas. Under each category, there will be centralized nurseries (public/.private) and decentralized nurseries (mahila and kisan nurseries. 

In order to monitor the implementation of the NBM, a National Level Apex Committee under the Chairmanship of Union Minister of Agriculture and National Steering Committee headed by  the Secretary, Department of Agriculture and Cooperation, will be constituted.—INFA