Govt Promoting Bamboo Plantation to Boost Farmers' Income: Tomar

Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said on Thursday that the government is encouraging farmers to plant bamboo because it will help them earn more revenue. The minister practically addressed the 'National Consultation on Prospects and Challenges for Bamboo in India' at its opening session. The National Bamboo Mission, Niti Aayog, and Invest India are partnering on the two-day event on the bamboo field, according to an official statement.

Tomar stated that the government is working tirelessly to grow the bamboo sector because it is clear that it can be a key crop for doubling farmers' income, growing job opportunities, and improving people's livelihoods, especially in the North East.

Small and marginal farmers will grow bamboo with the help of FPOs (Farmer Producer Organizations), according to the minister. He urged states to request proposals for the establishment of FPOs in the bamboo industry.

Because determining the species and condition of bamboo at the seedling level is extremely difficult, the minister praised the 'Global Bamboo Mission' for establishing guidelines for nursery accreditation and planting material certification. 'States are now accrediting nurseries, and knowledge is available inside the property right to help farmers and industry find suitable planting content,' he said.

Bamboos have been cultivated in a 15,000-hectare field in the last three years, according to Tomar. The government will encourage the use of bamboo in premium eco-tourism attractions, new homes, and resorts, according to the agriculture minister. He also reported that the Ministry of Rural Development has prepared mandatory models for the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Rural, which promotes the use of bamboo.