New Delhi, November 20 (MExN): With 54172 sq km, the North Eastern States (NES) represents 34.53% of the country’s bamboo bearing area and the Union Government through the National Bamboo Mission (NBM) is focussing on the development of complete value chain of bamboo sector to link growers with consumers.
The Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), Dr Jitendra Singh stated this in a written reply to an Unstarred Question in Lok Sabha on November 20 regarding the production of bamboo in the region.
Citing the India State of Forest Report, 2017, the Minister said that the total bamboo bearing area in the country is 156866 sq. km.
Singh further informed that restructured National Bamboo Mission (NBM) has been launched in 2018-19 by the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare.
It is focussing on 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, skill development and brand building initiative in a cluster approach mode, he said.
NBM interventions includes support to industries for establishment of bamboo treatment and seasoning plants, establishment of carbonisation plants and establishment of livelihood business incubators and establishment of processing units for value addition, he added.
The Minister also highlighted that the Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises is implementing a scheme called ‘Scheme of Fund for Regeneration of Traditional Industries (SFURTI) in seven districts of Manipur, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Tripura and Assam.
The provisions include for need-based assistance, replacement of production equipment, setting up of Common Facility Centres (CFC), product development, quality improvement, improved marketing, training and capacity building.
Cane and Bamboo Technology Centre (CBTC) of DoNER is creating avenues on cane and bamboo sector by training, technology transfer and market linkage and has formed 16 clusters, 2 in each State of North East, for training in various handicraft and utility products for the artisans of North East, he added.
The Minister was replying to the questions posed by Members of Parliament Dilip Saikia from Assam and Ramesh Chander Kaushik from Haryana regarding the production of bamboo in the region and the Government’s proposal to formulate any scheme to promote bamboo based cottage industries.
