Increase bamboo productivity and utilize resources optimally: Radha Mohan Singh

Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh on Thursday called for improved bamboo productivity and optimum utilization of bamboo and allied products to develop this key sector holistically.

Participating in a discussion on the theme "Development of Bamboo" at India International Centre here, Singh said that the National Bamboo Mission (NBM) was started in 2006-07, and the main objectives of it was to increase the coverage of bamboo cultivation area, with suitable species to enhance yields; to promote marketing of bamboo and bamboo based handicrafts; to generate employment opportunities, especially unemployed youth etc.

He also revealed recent initiatives to enhance bamboo plantation and its use:

O The issue of Liberalizing the Transit Regulation for Bamboo was taken up with the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF). The MoEF has issued on 18th November, 2014 the guidelines for Liberalizing Felling and Transit Regime for tree species including bamboo grown on non-forest/private lands to all States implementation of these guidelines by the States will promote production and utilization of bamboo.

O With a view to promote bamboo in National Horticulture Mission (NHM) manual on Bamboo Playhouses has been prepared.

O The possibility of promoting the bamboo pack houses in NHM is also being explored.

O To improve the quality of bamboo planting material, the first phase of selection of superior clones has been completed by ICFRE.

O For providing quality planting material ICFRE is upgrading three Tissue Culture Labs

O All State Mission Directors have been requested to give emphasis on establishment of Common Facility Centres (CFC) and to organize specialized training programmes by engaging reputed institutes for the benefit of artisans from the Annual Action Plan 2015-16.

Singh mentioned that since its inception, 329,372 hectares of land has been covered with bamboo plantation, out of which 216,484 hectares under forest area and 112,888 hectares under non-forest area.

An area of 77,030 hectares of existing bamboo plantation has been improved for higher productivity. In addition, 1417 nurseries have been established to supply quality planting material. In different states, 48,885 farmers and 7,830 field functionaries have been trained in the area of nursery management and bamboo plantation, he added.

Speaking on challenges, Singh said states have to be impressed upon to implement transit pass guidelines issued by Ministry of Environment and Forests.