Agriculture Minister approves Advisory group to boost Bamboo sector development
The Union
Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar had approved the formation of an
Advisory Group for streamlining the development of the Bamboo sector. The
Advisory group encompasses the representation of various stakeholders viz.,
academicians, researchers, innovators, progressive entrepreneurs, designers,
farmer leaders, marketing specialists and policy makers. The inter ministerial
and public - private consultation is envisaged to dovetail the bamboo
initiatives of the Ministries/ Departments and to help revamp the developmental
architecture of the sector by incorporating synergy between all the
sections related to the bamboo value chain.
The restructured
National Bamboo Mission (NBM) was launched during 2018-19 as a Centrally
Sponsored Scheme. NBM mainly focuses on the development of complete value chain
of Bamboo sector to link growers with consumers starting from planting
material, plantation, creation of facilities for collection, aggregation,
processing, marketing, micro, small & medium enterprises, skilled manpower
and brand building initiative in a cluster approach mode. Over the years of the
interventions through policy, facilitations and awareness creations, the bamboo
industry is witnessing a phase change by the opening of multiple avenues of the
resource utilization. Recently, the Prime Minister inaugurated the new terminal
of the Bengaluru (Kempagowda) Airport in which the versatility of bamboo as an
architectural and structural material has been proved and the destiny of this
green resource defined as the ‘green steel’. Apart from using in the
construction sector as design and structural element, the potential of bamboo
is multifaceted. Ecofriendly mouldable granules from bamboo can replace the use
of plastic. Bamboo is a reliable source for the ethanol and bio-energy
production due to its fast rate of growth and abundance. The market of Bamboo
based lifestyle products, cutleries, home decors, handicrafts and cosmetics
also is in a growth path. The National Bamboo Mission is striving to bring the
benefits of this growing sector to the farmers and human resources of the
Nation.
The Subject experts
and other stakeholders who are actively working in the bamboo sector will
advise about the areas to be focused as well as the policy interventions to be
taken in coordination with other stakeholders of the sector. The Union
Agriculture Secretary will be the Chairperson and Mission Director of National
Bamboo Mission will be the Convener of the Committee. The members of the
committee shall advise the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare on
issues and technologies in propagation, plantation of bamboo &
intercropping, primary processing, product development, value addition, market
infrastructure and linkages, processing machineries, skill development etc.