40. National Bamboo Mission
Bamboo, a fast growing, versatile woody grass is found across the country. It is an economic resource having immense potential for improving the quality of life of rural and urban communities with environment regeneration qualities like carbon sequestering.
Bamboo provides raw material for large industries like paper and pulp as well as for cottage and handicrafts industry. Some bamboo species can grow one metre in a day.
Bamboo shoots are used in the preparation of vegetables and various other dishes and many other horticultural uses. It is grown like any other horticultural crop by tilling the land and is harvested annually, when grown commercially. Bamboo roots, leaves, sap and ash are being used since ancient times as a remedy for minor and major ailments, particularly in Ayurvedic health care.
The world market for bamboo is valued at US $ 10 billion of which China’s share alone is to the tune of 50%. Market for bamboo expected to reach about US $ 20 billion by 2015.
The size of the domestic bamboo industry is estimated to be about Rs.6505 crores, which may grow to Rs.26,000.00 crores by 2015..
The domestic bamboo sector is faced with many constraints, such as: o Lack of scientific methods for propagation and cultivation. o Lack of post harvest treatment and technology for product development. o Inadequate trained manpower. o Inadequate infrastructure for large scale harvesting in the event of gregarious flowering.
Keeping in view the potential of Bamboo, its present poor market linkage and sub optimal level technology application for manufacture of value added products in the industrial and cottage sector, the National Mission on Bamboo Technology & Trade development has been mooted by Planning Commission to accord Bamboo development a strategic role in rural economy, Poverty alleviation and bamboo based handicrafts & industrial development. The task for coordinating the National Mission on Bamboo Technology and
Trade has been entrusted by the Prime Minister to the Ministry of Agriculture. The
Mission document envisages coverage of 2 million ha under bamboo during the X Plan involving an investment of Rs. 2608 crores. The Mission document also envisages the integration different Ministries/ Departments for the holistic development of the sector.
The Report, further, envisions an integrated programme expansion of plantations of bamboo species, its scientific management with the involvement of JFM committees, local initiatives and entrepreneurship for presenting this raw material for the Industries and assisting the Industry to access and apply modern technology for producing globally competitive new generation bamboo products. The other features of the Mission include
Technology Development and Transfer for Planting, Technology intervention on process and products including standards and codes, Handicraft development including training,
Trade and Market Development for bamboo products, and Technology development for building material.
The estimated fund requirement for the 10 th
Plan is Rs.2608.00 crores covering
Rs.2000.00 crores for raising new bamboo plantations in 2 million ha, Rs. 208.00 crores for technology development, Rs.275.00 crores for handicrafts development, Rs.125.00 crores for trade and market development. Part of the cost of the project is required to be met from the Plan allocation for various Ministries by way of dovetailing the on going plan programme with the proposed ones. However, some components would require new

provisions partly/ wholly for which resource allocation will be required. These may include R&D, planting program, technology development for processing, design development and promotional assistance for trade and market development.
The economic and social benefits from these activities have been worked out as 8.6 million job creation in the Tenth Plan, building up of 2 million ha bamboo resource and market opportunities worth Rs. 6500 crore with an investment of Rs. 2600 crore, enabling
5 million families of artisans and farmers crossing the poverty line.
The task for preparing the DPR has been entrusted to the Cane & Bamboo Technology
Centre, Guwahati, which is expected to be finalised soon.
1. BACKGROUND
With a view to harness the potential of bamboo crop in the country through a multidisciplinary approach, the Planning Commission brought out a report titled National
Mission on Bamboo Technology and Trade Development (NMBTTD) in 2001-02 . The report brings out the country s future potential in bamboo development for the next two decades. Subsequent to this, a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for setting up a National
Bamboo Mission was prepared. The National Bamboo Mission will be a Centrally
Sponsored Scheme in which the contribution of the Central Government will be 100%.
The Scheme shall be implemented by the Division of Horticulture under the Department of
Agriculture and Cooperation in the Ministry of Agriculture, New Delhi.
2. MISSION OBJECTIVES
The main objectives of the Mission are:
To promote holistic growth of the bamboo sector through area based regionally differentiated strategies;
To increase the coverage of area under bamboo both in forest and non-forest areas; with appropriate varieties to enhance yields;
To promote marketing of bamboo based handicrafts.
To establish convergence and synergy among stake-holders for development of bamboo.
To promote, develop and disseminate technologies through a seamless brand of traditional wisdom and modern scientific knowledge.
To generate employment opportunities for skilled and unskilled persons, especially unemployed youths.
3. STRATEGY
To achieve the above objectives, the Mission would adopt the following strategies: Adopt a specific approach covering production and marketing to assure appropriate returns to growers/producers; Promotion of Research and Development (R&D) of technologies for production. Enhanced acreage (in forest and non-forest areas) and productivity; Adopt a coordinated approach and promote partnership, convergence and synergy among R&D marketing agencies in public as well as private sectors, at all levels; Promote cooperatives and self-help groups to ensure support and adequate returns to farmers; Facilitation of capacity-building and Human Resource Development; Setting up of National, State and sub-State level structures, keeping in view the need for getting adequate returns for the produce of the farmers and eliminating middlemen to the extent possible
State Level Agencies
4.8. In Government forest lands, bamboo plantation programme will be undertaken through the Forest Development Agencies (FDA) and the Joint Forest Management

Committees (JFMCs). However, in case of Non-Forest Areas, the funds will be released by
Ministry of Agriculture/ Horticulture to the Bamboo Development Agencies (BDAs) concerned for onward disbursement to the beneficiaries. The State Mission Director to be appointed by the State Government will be the Member Secretary. At the operational level,
State Governments will have the freedom to nominate or create a suitable autonomous agency to be registered under the Societies Registration Act for implementing the Mission programmes at the State and District levels . The Panchayati Raj Institutions existing in the
State would be fully involved in the implementation structure.
4.9. The State Level Agency will have the following functions: Prepare perspective and annual State Level Action Plan in consonance with Mission s goals and objectives in close coordination with Bamboo Technical Support Group (BTSG) and oversee its implementation; Receive funds from the national mission authority, the State Government and other sources for carrying out the mission s activities, maintain proper accounts thereof and submit utilization certificate to the concerned agencies. Release funds to the implementing organizations and oversee, monitor & review the implementation of the programmes. Organize base-line survey and feasibility studies in different parts (District, sub-District, or a group of Districts) to determine the status of bamboo production, its potential and demand, and tailor assistance accordingly. Similar studies would also be undertaken for other components of the programmes; Assist and oversee the implementation of the Mission s programmes in the State through Farmers, Societies,
NGOs, growers, associations, selfhelp groups, State institutions and other similar entities;
Organize Workshops, Seminars and training programmes for all interest groups/ associations at the State level. (III) District Level:
(e) Non-Forest Areas
4.10 The Bamboo Development Agency of every State will constitute a District Level
Committee (chaired by the District Horticulture Officer, etc., as the case may be). The
Committee will comprise of officials from Agriculture/ Horticulture, Forest, Rural
Development and other line departments, SHGs, NGOs, Industries, etc. All proposals received would be compiled and sent to the BDA for appraisal and scrutiny. This
Committee will also oversee, coordinate and control all activities at the district level for non-forest areas. The District Planning Committee and Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRI) will be integrated/ involved in implementing the programme depending on their expertise and available infrastructure. The District Agriculture/ Horticulture Officer will be the
Member Secretary.