Center Approves Formation of Advisory Group to Bring Synergy in Bamboo Value Chain

According to a statement issued by the agriculture ministry, the advisory group includes academicians, researchers, innovators, progressive entrepreneurs, designers, farm leaders, marketing specialists, and policymakers.

The inter-ministerial and public-private consultation is intended to integrate the bamboo initiatives of the Ministries/Departments and to assist in revamping the sector's developmental architecture by incorporating synergy among all sections of the bamboo value chain. The restructured National Bamboo Mission (NBM) was launched as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme in 2018-19.

The Mission's primary focus is on developing a complete value chain of the bamboo sector to connect growers with consumers, beginning with planting material, plantation, and the establishment of facilities for collection, aggregation, processing, marketing, micro, small, and medium enterprises, skilled labour, and brand building initiatives in a cluster approach mode.

The bamboo industry has undergone a phase change due to years of intervention through policy, facilitation, and awareness creation, with the opening of multiple avenues of resource utilization.

According to the statement, Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently inaugurated the new terminal of the Bengaluru (Kempagowda) Airport, in which the versatility of bamboo as an architectural and structural material has been demonstrated and the destiny of this green resource defined as the 'green steel.'

Aside from its use in the construction industry as a design and structural element, bamboo has many applications. Plastic can be replaced with environmentally friendly mouldable granules made from bamboo. Because of its rapid growth and abundance, bamboo is a dependable source of ethanol and bio-energy production.

Bamboo-based lifestyle products, cutlery, home decor, handicrafts, and cosmetics are also on the rise. The National Bamboo Mission is working to bring the benefits of this growing sector to the nation's farmers and human resources. Bamboo plantations cover a large area in India, particularly in the northeastern region. However, transportation and value-addition at farm gates have been a problem for the region's growers.