On 8th September 22 bamboo clusters have been inaugurated in Odisha, MP, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Assam, Nagaland, Tripura, Uttarakhand and Karnataka by Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Rural Development & Panchayati Raj Narendra Singh Tomar through virtual mode. He also released a new logo for the National Bamboo Mission, which was chosen through a contest.
Addressing the event, the Union Agriculture Minister called upon the states to take forward the objectives of NBM and also lauded the success of the mission which will help local artisans of India to manufacture, export bamboo products and reduce dependency on imports of some raw material. With the wealth of bamboo in India and growing industry, India should aim to establish itself in global markets for both engineered and handcrafted products, he added.
Indian Forest Act 1927 in 2017 removed bamboo from the category of trees, which facilitates anyone to undertake cultivation and business in bamboo and its products. Training the youth for the bamboo industry is also underway. The Mission is being implemented with the main goal of connecting farmers and increasing supply of appropriate raw material to domestic industry. Ten most important species which are required by industry have been identified and quality planting material is being made available to farmers for plantations.
