Restructured ‘National Bamboo Mission’ gets cheerful nod with an aim to ensure surplus productivity and employment

New Delhi, April 25: In a wake to boost ‘Bamboo’, today the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) gave a nod to increasing in Minimum Support Prices for Raw Jute for the 2018-19 season and restructured ‘National Bamboo Mission’ scheme. The mission aims to ensure holistic development of the bamboo sector by addressing complete value chain and establishing effective linkage of producers (farmers) with industry. 

CCEA chaired by the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi today approved Centrally Sponsored Scheme of National Bamboo Mission (NBM) under National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) during the remaining period of Fourteenth Finance Commission (2018-19 & 2019-20).

CCEA has also approved Empowerment of Executive Committee for the formulation of guidelines of the NBM and to make the changes therein, including cost norms for various interventions from time-to-time as per the felt needs and specific recommendations of States, with the approval of Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers Welfare.

An outlay of Rs.1290 Crores is provisioned for implementation of the Mission during the remaining period of 14th Finance Commission (2018-19 and 2019-20).

The scheme will benefit directly and indirectly the farmers as well as local artisans and associated personnel engaged in the bamboo sector including associated industries.

The Mission will focus on the development of bamboo in limited States where it has a social, commercial and economic advantage, particularly in the North Eastern region and States including Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Karnataka, Uttarakhand, Bihar, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

Bamboo plantation will contribute to optimizing farm productivity and income thereby enhancing livelihood opportunities of small & marginal farmers including landless and women as well as provide quality material to industry. Thus, the Mission will not only serve as a potential instrument for enhancing the income of farmers but also contributing towards climate resilience and environmental benefits. The Mission will also help in creating employment generation directly or indirectly in both skilled and unskilled segments.

The restructured NBM strives to -

1. To increase the area under bamboo plantation in non-forest Government and private lands to supplement farm income and contribute towards resilience to climate change.
2. To improve post-harvest management through the establishment of innovative primary processing units, treatment and seasoning plants, primary treatment and seasoning plants, preservation technologies and market infrastructure.
3. To promote product development at micro, small and medium levels and feed bigger industry.
4. To rejuvenate the underdeveloped bamboo industry in India.
5. To promote skill development, capacity building, awareness generation for development of the bamboo sector.