Bamboo can be promoted as commercial crop in India, say experts

Hyderabad: Stressing on vast opportunities in bamboo cultivation, experts suggested for comprehensive approach in promoting bamboo as a commercial crop across the country. Union Rural Development Secretary Nagendra Nath Sinha admitted that National Bamboo Mission did not impact revival of rural economy on the expected lines. Lot of furniture was being imported from China and […]

Hyderabad: Stressing on vast opportunities in bamboo cultivation, experts suggested for comprehensive approach in promoting bamboo as a commercial crop across the country. Union Rural Development Secretary Nagendra Nath Sinha admitted that National Bamboo Mission did not impact revival of rural economy on the expected lines.

Lot of furniture was being imported from China and Malaysia into the country. While, China covers 70 per cent of the global bamboo market, India’s share was just five per cent, he said while addressing virtually at the two-day national conference on “Dissemination of innovations in bamboo sector for improving the rural economy”, which began here on Thursday.

“There was vast scope for promotion of bamboo cultivation in India. If 10 per cent of the conventional wood usage is replaced by bamboo usage, it will aid in creating 7 million direct jobs in the country,” Nagendra Nath Sinha said.

Stating that Rural Development Schemes, particularly MGNREGA were aiding livelihoods through bamboo plantations in North Eastern States, he urged the experts to focus on developing value chain in bamboo cultivation and creation of livelihood opportunities in rural areas.

National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (NIRD&PR) and Centre for Innovations in Public Systems (CIPS) are jointly organizing the national Conference to promote bamboo and aid in exchange of knowledge and best practices developed both in public and private spheres.

This conference is aimed at focusing bamboo cultivation, value addition, and marketing. Around 160 participants from various States, including entrepreneurs making bamboo products, bamboo farmers, artisans, forest department officials and research scholars are participating in the conference.

NIRDPR Director General G Narendra Kumar emphasized on coordination among stakeholders for promotion of bamboo technologies to reach rural areas, especially for employment generation and to cut down the production cost.

Bamboo cultivation serves multiple benefits, including ecological, environmental, economic and social for farmers. There was great potential for bamboo use in the construction industries, he said.

CIPS Director C Achalender Reddy highlighted the present scenario of bamboo sector in the country and stressed on the need for connecting the missing links. “Recognizing bamboo from forest timber produce to agriculture produce is a game changer in this sector,” Achalender Reddy said.

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