ISSUE 10, 2007 For Private circulation only
TICHWCfll/DiGlSf
Bamboo Cultivation - Potential and Prospects
Sangeeta Prasad Mehra^ & L. K. Mehra^
1.
Introduction:
restrictive rules. There is a need to integrate the
efforts at various levels for evolving workable
strategies to p r o m o t e the sector, which w o u l d not
only be instrumental in addressing environmental
concerns but also economic and livilihood security
to millions of people in the country.
1.1 The world market for b a m b o o has been valued at
Rs. 50000 crore (US$ 10 billion) in 2001 and is
expected to g r o w to Rs. 100,000 crore (US$ 20
billion) b y 2015. India, China a n d M y a n m a r
t o g e t h e r h ave a b o u t 198 lakh ha of b a m b o o
reserves - 80 percent of the w o r l d ' s b a m b o o
forests. Of this, India's share is about 45 percent.
However, its share in global market is only 4.5 per
cent. On the other hand, China alone has captured
50 per cent of the World market, exporting as
much as 20 million tonnes of varied products a
year. India, a l m o s t 20 years b e h i n d China in
commercial production, produces only 3.5 million
tonnes of bamboo a year.
2.
2.1 A vailability of Land:
As per the National Remote Sensing Agency,
about 2 0 % of the geographical area of the country,
i.e. a b o u t 6 3 8 . 5 l a k h h a . are c l a s s i f i e d as
w a s t e l a n d s C o v e r i n g 1 0 % of this land under
b a m b o o cultivation can achieve the suggested
target of 60 lakh ha under the National Bamboo
Mission.
1.2 The Govt, of India, has lately c o m e t o regard
bamboo as an easily manageable export item that
provides high yields, has multiple uses and has
the potential to provide e m p l o y m e n t for millions.
In this backdrop, the Planning Commission, Govt,
of India, has accorded special status to bamboo
a n d launched ' National M i s s i o n o n B a m b o o
Technology and Trade Development', The target
is to capture 27 % of the w o r l d b a m b o o market
by the year 2015.
2.2 Availability
of Technology:
The 'National Mission on Bamboo
Application
(NMBA)', established under the TIFAC (Technology
Information, Forecasting and Assessment Council),
Department of Science and Technology, New Delhi
has been s u p p o r t i n g b a m b o o sector t h r o u g h
t e c h n o l o g i c a l u p g r a d a t i o n , d e v e l o p m e n t of
indigenous capacities/enterprise and linkages with
markets. The agency presently is working with
about 60 partners, mainly Research institutions.
Enterprises and Govt, agencies, across the country
for technological intervention and demonstration
of bamboo as a business venture, both at cultivation
and utilization level. Venture capital support is
available t h r o u g h t h e agency, for i n t e r e s t e d
entrepreneurs to establish hi-tech bamboo industry
in the country.
1.3 In tune with the Government policy, NABARD has
developed a 'Bamboo Development Policy' to give
focussed thrust to develop the sector w i t h an
integrated approach. The major objective is to
commercialize Bamboo at farmers level. The policy
e n v i s a g e s c o m p r e h e n s i v e d e v e l o p m e n t of
bamboo resources as a marketable commodity and
a linkage of bamboo farmers with bamboo artisans.
1.4 In the context of the above, it is high time w e put
bamboo into industrial pedestal with appropriate
tie-up arrangements w i t h b a m b o o based
industries viz. paper, handicrafts and the n e w
e m e r g i n g areas of e c o - f r i e n d l y p r o d u c t s e.g.
corrugated sheets, bamboo tiles, bamboo
f l o o r i n g , b a m b o o f a b r i c , etc. T h e r e is h u g e
u n t a p p e d p o t e n t i a l in t h e w a s t e l a n d s u n d e r
purview of Farm forestry/ Agro-forestry in the
country. However, the progress under the sector
is hampered with lack of information, supply chain
m a n a g e m e n t , lack of i n s t i t u t i o n a l c r e d i t and
2.3 Availability
of
Market:
According to the Planning Commission, the annual
market potential for value added bamboo
products in India is Rs.4,463 crore as against the
current market size of Rs. 2043 crore. This is
projected to touch Rs.26,000 crore by 2015.
The c u r r e n t size of b a m b o o use in A g a r b a t t i
industries itself has been estimated at Rs. 135
crore and bamboo utilized in ice-cream industries,
kites, crackers, lathies and fishing rods has been
estimated to the tune of 10 lakh tonnes annually.
Manager^'2 Karnataka RO
'i!S®^MM^W«J**W*^
Potential for Bamboo Cultivation :
26
^ftlilQIcT/^l^^ll?
The Indian bamboo shoots industry is expected
to g r o w at the rate of 2 5 % per annum and capture
a market worth Rs. 300 crore by 2015 f r o m the
current level of Rs. 4.8 crore. A large potential
Country's bamboo economy is expected to grow
by over 15% to touch Rs. 26,000 crore by 2015.
•
Bamboo can replace the projected import of
timber to the tune of Rs.30,000 crore in the next
20 years i.e. 2025.
•
•
•
•
The financing institutions can play a significant role
. in greening India under the behest of b a m b o o
cultivation . Various financing models are available
to cater to the need of different clientele, viz.
T h e m a r k e t size f o r b a m b o o p l y w o o d is
expected to g r o w to Rs. 500 crore in 2015 f r o m
Rs. 200 crore in 2001.
It has been estimated that the total market size
of bamboo flooring materials will rise to Rs. 1,950
crore by 2015 f r o m the current Rs. 200 crore.
The demand for b a m b o o pulp is expected to
grow to Rs. 2,088 crore by 2015 f r o m Rs. 100
crore in 2001.
The demand for b a m b o o furniture is expected
to grow to Rs.3,265 crore in 2015 f r o m Rs.380
crore in 2001.
•
By 2015 b a m b o o scaffolding requirement will
rise to Rs.861 crore and for housing purposes
the demand will be Rs.1,163 crore.
•
The demand for b a m b o o in road construction
will rise to Rs.274 crore and for b a m b o o grids
the demand will be Rs. 100 crore by 2015.
•
The demands for miscellaneous industry viz. ice
cream sticks, fire crackers, b a m b o o lathis and
ladders will rise to Rs. 600 crore by 2015.
•
Finance for Nurseries - Centralized/ Decentralized/
Tissue Culture Unit etc.
•
Captive Bamboo plantation by SFDC and
Industries
•
Contract farming
•
Area Development Project
•
Joint Forest Management (JFM) - under (RIDF)
•
Forest regeneration/ development- under (RIDF)
•
Financing to Village Forest Committees (VFCs)/
Self H e l p G r o u p s - u n d e r m i c r o - c r e d i t
programme.
•
Cluster D e v e l o p m e n t
Craftpersons
for
Artisans
User
and
Financing for nursery and plantation of bamboo are
covered under 'Direct Finance to Agriculture' under
Priority Sector Lending.
3.
export market exists for shoots in Japan, Hong
Kong, Singapore and Thailand. The Projected
demand and supply of Bamboo as envisaged by
the Planning Commission is given in table 1.
2.4 Credit
Prat 4R.^WH%g
Further, the financial requirement during the Xth
plan for Bamboo Mission is estimated at Rs. 2608
crore under various components, wherein, Rs.
2000 crore has been earmarked for plantation in
20 lakh ha. of area. Considering the cost of
plantation as 20,000/ha, the financial gap under
the sector is to the tune of 2000 crore, which needs
to be supported through credit by way of building
private public partnership for investment.
Table 1: Bamboo - Projected Demand and Supply
•
ajgrio, 2007
NABARD Initiatives in Bamboo Sector:
3.1 NABARD, as an apex bank for development of
agriculture and rural sector, has identified bamboo
sector as " Thrust Area " and has taken distinct
p o l i c y i n i t i a t i v e s f o r c r e a t i n g an e n a b l i n g
environment for promoting this sector under farm
and n o n - f a r m sector. NABARD's Bamboo
D e v e l o p m e n t Policy a i m s at m a i n s t r e a m i n g
b a m b o o f a r m i n g , p r o c e s s i n g and m a r k e t i n g .
Interventions are taken under four broad areas viz.
Policy; P r o m o t i o n a l and F i n a n c i a l ; Capacity
Building and N e t w o r k i n g and Coordination. A
' B a m b o o Cell' has been created at NABARD's
Head Office, M u m b a i with Nodal Officers in all the
Regional Office for a concerted effort.
Potential:
The Bamboo Mission envisages expanding the
area under B a m b o o plantation by 20 lakh ha.
during the X Five Year Plan (10 lakh ha in forest
area and 10 lakh in areas outside forest) and
overall 60 lakh ha by XI Five Year Plan. This calls
for a massive r e q u i r e m e n t of quality planting
material viz. 100 crore during the X plan period
and another 200 crore during IX plan period. This
itself requires an investment to the tune of about
Rs. 500 c r o r e . A p a r t of t h e r e q u i r e m e n t is
expected to be met through credit.
3.2 A p e r s p e c t i v e p l a n f o r f i n a n c i n g b a m b o o
plantations by banks in 3 lakh ha potential states.
27
ISSUE 10, 2007 For Private circulation only
• • - ' » . .
TECHNIGAl DIGESf
with an investment outlay of Rs. 1,000 crore during
Tenth Plan p e r i o d w a s f o r m u l a t e d . Bankable
Model Projects for Bamboo have been prepared
to suite different areas/ cliental. A n Area
Development Project for Bamboo cultivation in
Barak valley of Assam has been developed which
envisages covering 2500ha of area under bamboo
cultivation over a period of three years. RIDF
assistance has been provided to APFDC for raising
bamboo in degraded forest.
4.
Techno - Economic Parameters of
Financing:
Bamboo
Organic manure mixtures along with fertilizers
containing NPK should be applied in the planting
pit at the time of planting. Weeding and protective
irrigation are essential in the first t w o years of
p l a n t a t i o n f o r s t a b i l i z a t i o n of the plant. The
plantation needs to be protected f r o m fire and
biotic pressures for initial 3-4 years, thus fencing
or d i g g i n g c a t t l e - p r o o f t r e n c h a r o u n d t h e
plantations is advisable.
c.
Management: Proper management practice is the
key to the success of bamboo plantations as the
yield realized f r o m the b a m b o o plantations is
d i r e c t l y d e p e n d e n t on t h e soil n u t r i t i o n and
cultural operations. 'An eight year bamboo clump
can have about 90 culms, of which 70-80 culm
are destroyed, if left unmanaged'.
Bamboo is a
h e a v y f e e d e r a n d e v e n a rich soil b e c o m e s
d e p l e t e d after a f e w y e a r s . On an a v e r a g e .
Bamboo plantations removes about 2300 kg of
nutrients per ha in a period of 6 years. Therefore,
soil supplements in the f o r m of organic manures
and fertilizers must be added to the clumps every
year. A little bit of soil working around the clumps
enhances production of new culms and is a must
management practice. From 4th year onwards, the
d e a d / d y i n g c u l m f r o m t h e c l u m p m u s t be
r e m o v e d t o a v o i d c o n g e s t i o n . P r u n i n g of
excessive t h o r n s is necessary to maintain a
hygienic conditions of the clump and must be
carried out every year f r o m 3rd-4th year onwards.
Insect and diseases, if any, need to managed,
t h o u g h b a m b o o s have c o m p a r a t i v e l y f e w
problems of insects or pests.
d.
Harvesting: Well-managed commercial bamboo
plantation matures within 4-5 years and can be
harvested every year. Selection fellings rriust be
practiced, and should be done in summer months.
For harvesting, the mature culms should be cut at
a height between first and second node above
the ground level. Harvesting should be done in a
horse shoe-fashion (instead of peripheral cuttings)
to avoid congestion of the clump and give space
for the newly emerging clums and thus give a
better yield. As a good management practice, a
few mature culms should be left well distributed
in the c l u m p to provide support to the current
year's culms. All immature culms (less than 4
years old) must be left to mature.
4.1 Nursery:
Bamboo can be raised through seeds, rhizomes,
c u l m cuttings as also t h r o u g h tissue culture
t e c h n i q u e s . Nursery c o u l d be centralized or
decentralized. While Centralized nurseries are
expected to be developed by Forest Department.
Forest
Development
Corporation
and
E n t r e p r e n e u r s , d e c e n t r a l i z e d n u r s e r i e s are
expected to be taken up by VFCs, SHGs or farmers
to cater the local requirement of bamboo seedlings.
The Cost of for raising a decentralized nursery (1000
plants) is about Rs. 25,000. Detail break up of the
unit cost and economics is given in Annexure I.
4.2. Bamboo Plantations:
Bamboo can be raised profitably on wastelands
to yield recurring income for 20-30 years. The
techno- economic parameters of raising bamboo
is given as under:
a.
Site and Composition : Bamboo is non-exacting,
hardy and drought-resistant in nature and posses
a wide range of soil/climatic adaptability and g r o w
on marginal and degraded land, elevated ground,
along field bunds and river banks f r o m coastal
regions to mountain slopes (upto 4000m above
m e a n sea l e v e l ) u n d e r m o i s t t o s e m i - a r i d
conditions. Bamboo however, cannot withstand
saline soils, alkaline soils and waterlogged areas.
Bamboo can be raised as block plantations in
degraded slopes, watershed areas, and cultivable
w a s t e s or u n d e r j o i n t F o r e s t M a n a g e m e n t
programmes. It also c o m b i n e well w i t h grasses,
pulses, oilseeds, soyabeans and shade crops like
ginger turmeric, cinnamon, etc. and can be raised
under various agro-forestry systems.
b.
Planting Tecimique: Monsoon is the best time for
planting of the nursery-raised plants in the field.
About 1 year old plants may be planted for better
survival. The commercial spacing recommended
to obtain good crop varies f r o m 5m x 4 m to 6m x
6m. Plants are planted in pits of 45 cm x 45 cm x
45 cm size.
The cost for raising Dendrocalamus
strictus on
wastelands, under rain-fed condition is Rs. 23,600
per ha. (capitalized for 6 years). The detail break
up of unit cost is given in Annexure II.
^niiiiii;^ i i i i ^
5.
Limitations and Required Interventions:
b.
Lack of awareness: Bamboo has been traditionally
raised, to a limited extend, in village commons and
homestead gardens. However, it still remains a forest
species in respect of industrial use and commercial
plantations. There is a need for changing the 'forestry
mindset' to the 'farming mind set' and creating
awareness on the commercial viability and
profitability of the species. In this regard, extensive
awareness and capacity building programme are
required at all level viz. farmers, extension workers,
banks, user i n d u s t r i e s , etc.. T h e Research &
Development (R&D) under the sector needs to be
complimented with awareness
creation,
demonstration and extension supportfor a multiplier
effect. SHGs, VFCs, Farmers clubs, etc. could be
used as vehicle for such extension programme.
Harvesting and Transport restrictions: It is evident,
to meet the domestic and International demand of
bamboo, the 'raw material' has to necessarily come
from the private sources. The Indian Forest Act.
1927, defines bamboo as a " forest produce", and
the species attracts the felling and transit restrictions
under most of the States Forest Rules. Procedures
f o r taking p e r m i t s a r e , m o r e often t h a n n o t ,
cumbersome, time consuming and harassing. These
legal restrictions, detract farmers/ entrepreneurs
f r o m raising bamboo on their private wastelands
on commercial basis and is one of the most crucial
issues in promotion of bamboo sector in the country.
The probable option lies in exemption of Bamboo
from the restrictive harvesting and transit rules, as
in case of many other agro forestry species or at
least simplifications of these rules.
c.
Land Ceiling Act: The Land Ceiling A c t is one of
the deterrent factors for entrepreneurs interested
in taking large-scale industrial plantations of the
species. Plantation crops s u c h as tea, coffee,
cardamom and rubber have been relaxed f r o m
the purview of Land Ceiling Act. Similar relaxation
needs t o be extended for the b a m b o o sector.
d.
Policy for leasing revenue wastelands for forest
plantations
: A l a r g e p o r t i o n of a v a i l a b l e
wastelands, which could be profitably used for
raising b a m b o o , are under t h e c o n t r o l of t h e
Revenue Department. Such lands are neither being
Prsfr 4R^HH %g;
developed by the Department nor leased away to
the interest entrepreneurs for development. There
is therefore desirable that the State Govts, evolve
s u i t a b l e p o l i c i e s f o r l e a s i n g of t h e r e v e n u e
wastelands to the farmers/ SHGs/ entrepreneurs/
industries for raising forest plantations for industrial
use. Andhra Pradesh, Tamilnadu and, Chattisgarh
have come up with such policy. Other States may
also f o l l o w t o e n c o u r a g e t h e public p r i v a t e
partnership for greening the wastelands.
Despite t h e available potential under the B a m b o o
sector viz. availability of land, availability of technology,
availability of credit, as also. Government thrust, the
sector has not gained the desired m o m e n t u m in the
country. The main limiting factors in the p r o m o t i o n of
the sector are:
a.
3 t ^ 10. 2007
e.
Need for Organized Supply Chain
Management:
Though a vast market exists for the bamboo sector,
there is a need for an organized market with assured
m i n i m u m price regime to encourage the small
farmers t o take up bamboo plantations on their
private wastelands. Contract farming by user
industries needs to be encouraged. There is also a
need f o r p r o m o t i n g 'Bamboo Governance' and
encouraging the b a m b o o products at the Govt.
Offices, Corporates and Public-sector undertakings
to pave the w a y for large scale demand, supply,
production of b a m b o o - based utility items and
regeneration of b a m b o o b y strengthening the
supply chain
/.
Need for rationalization
of taxation and price
fixation: In some States, viz. Karnataka, bamboo
raised under private sector is subject to tax by
the forest d e p a r t m e n t , as also b y the APMC. This
needs t o be rationalized. Similarly, the price
fixation m e c h a n i s m b y the Forest Department
must be rationalized to ensure suitable
remuneration to growers viz. a viz. the industries.
g.
Need for incentives
for raising
bamboo
plantations: Cultivation of Bamboo under the farm
sector is a n e w activity and may be given fillip
through extending capital/ interest subsidy to the
f a r m e r s / entrepreneurs f o r raising b a m b o o
plantations.
6.
Conclusion:
From a 'poor mans t i m b e r ' , b a m b o o is fast emerging
as a 'Green Gold'. Markets are growing and offer new
opportunities for p r o m o t i o n of bamboo as alternative
t o w o o d as also other products. This is a golden
opportunity for the farmers, entrepreneurs, industries.
Banks, as also govt, agencies to tap the potential under
the sector for economic, ecological and social gains.
However, policy a n d operational bottlenecks, viz.
restrictive harvesting and transit rules, land ceiling act,
double taxation of b a m b o o , non-remunerative price
regime, lack of organized market, lack of awareness
a m o n g entrepreneur a n d banks, etc. needs t o be
addressed to give the desired momentum to the sector.
ISSUE 10, 2007 For Private circulation only
TECHHICftl/DiMST
Annexure
Unit Cost of Decentralised Bamboo Nursery of 1000 Sq. Mt. (10000 seedlings)
Techno-economic parameters
Avg. wage rate Rs. 50 per Man Day
Interest on term loan 12%
margin 1 0 % of the unit cost
Species Dendrocalamus strictus.
Spacing : 6m x 6m
No. of plants per ha :278
Mortality replacement :10%
No. of harvestabie plants per ha : 90%
Unit
S. No.
Particulars of Works
A
1
2
3
4
f 5
if 6
7
8
Capital Cost
2MD
Land preparation/ Sitr development
LS
Fencing (Bamboo/ live hedge)
LS
Repair and maintanence of irrigation source
LS
Tools and Implements
LS
Water Tank - 1
10 MD
Layout and preparation of poly beds ( 24 beds of 10x 1 m size)
LS
Shading Net of 80% shade with installation or thaching by grass
Subtotal
Contigencies (5% of subt total)
Total Capital Cost (A)
Recurring cost
@Rs.1000/year
Land rent (1000 Sq. mt)
2MD
Preparation of seed beds (2 beds) of 10m X imt
LS
Seeds
Polybags (6x9 of 100 gauge) 200 PB/Kg Pot mixturesand manure, earth (2 kg/bag)
OM includingLoading ., unloading
2 0 M T @ 120/Tand 10 MD
fertiliser, 10 gms/ polybags (in two doses)
100 kg
Plant protection chemicals
LS
Sowing on seed beds
1 MD
Weeding and Hoeing
5MD
Picking up from germi beds
2MD
Filling Polybags
50 MD @200 PB/ MD
Irrigation (labour cost)
10 MD
Application of fertiliser
2MD
Application of pesticides/ insecticides
2MD
Maintainace of path and channels
2MD
Maintenace of pumpset
LS
Subtotal
Supervision/ management cost® 10% of subtotal
Total recurring Cost (B)
Total (A + B)
Margin @ 10%
Bank Loan
B
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
Income
Sale price per seedling/ Poly bag
Installed capacity of nursery
Capacicity utilzation
lYr.
II Yr. onwards
Cost (Rs.)
100
500
500
800
2000
500
4000
8400
420
8820
1000
100
1000
2400
2900
1000
200
50
250
100
2500
500
100
100
100
2500
14800
1480
16280
25100
2510
22590
3
10000
60%
85%
30
a t ^ 10,2007
tftsraiFf/sS^*^
,
.
Prat MR-^iid-i %^
Annexure II
Unit Cost of bamboos (Dendrocalamus strictus) in Wastelands (One ha model)
Techno-economic parameters
Avg. wage rate Rs. 50 per Man Day
Interest on term loan 12%
margin 10% of the unit cost
Species Dendrocalamus strictus.
Spacing : 6m x 6m
No. of plants per ha :278
Mortality replacement :10%
No. of harvestable plants per ha : 90%
S. No.
Particulars of Works
Cost (Rs.) per year
Unit
1
2
3
Total (Rs.)
4
5
6
1
Site preparation, alingment and staking
LS
2000
2
Digging of pits (45 cm x 45cm x 45cm)
and refilling
@ Rs. 4/pit
1112
112
3
Cost of Plants including transport and
replacement plants ( 278/28))
Rs. 3.00/
plant
834
84
4
Planting & Replanting expenses
@50 plants per MD
6MD/1MD
300
50
5
Cost of Insecticide
LS
150
6
Cost of FYM @ 5kg / pit/year
Rs. 0.3/kg
417
417
417
417
417
417
2502
7
Cost of Fertilizer @ 0.1kg / plant/year
Rs. 8 / kg
222
222
222
222
222
222
1332
8
Weeding in first two years
10MD/8MD
500
400
9
Soil Working (per year)
lOMD/yr
500
500
10
Pruning from IV year onwards.
10 MD
11
Plant Protection
LS
12
Irrigation cost - 3 per annum for 2 •
years® Rs. 750/- per irrigation
13
Fencing @ Rs.6/- RM / cattle proof trench
LS
Sub Total
Contingency @ 5%
Grand Total (Unit cost taking first 6 yrs
of expenditure)
round off
2000
1224
918
^
350
150
250
250
2250
2250
900
500
250
500
500
500
3000
500
500
500
1500
250
250
250
1500
4500
2500
2500
11035
4285
1389
1889
1889
1889
22376
552
214
69
94
94
94
1118.8
11587
4499
1458
1983
1983
1983
23495
11600
4500
1500
2000
2000
2000
23600
Unit cost per ha. with a spacing of 6m x6m
Margin @10%
Bank loan @ 90%
23600
1160
450
150
200
200
200
2360
10440
4050
1350
1800
1800
1800
21240
Recurring Expenditure :
# Rs. 3700/- towards the maintainance (pruning, soil working, fertilization) and harvesting cost.
^•^-4^
ISSUE 10,2007 For Private circulation only
TECHNIGAl DIGEST
PLANTATION & HORTICULTURE
issues. The important issues identified at the
national level are indicated below :
•
The Thirteenth Business Development IVleet of
Plantation and Horticulture Discipline of NABARD
was held at Tocklai Experimental Station, Jorhat,
Assam during 20 - 21 November, 2006. The meet
was i n a u g u r a t e d by Dr K.G.Karmakar, MD,
NABARD. He stressed on the need to achieve
financial inclusion by involving all agencies and
the people. He also stated that horticulture and
plantation / tree based farming models are best
suited for the North Eastern Region and we need
to nurture good NGOs to take this mission forward.
Dr. M.Hazarika, Director, Tocklai Experimental
Station, in his address, stated that the future of
the Indian tea industry lies in the production of
value added teas, development of diversified
products from tea and in reducing production cost.
Dr P.G.Rao, Director, Regional Research
Laboratory(RRL), J o r h a t also a-ddressed the
participants and highlighted the thrust areas of
research being undertaken by RRL, Jorhat.
Presentations were made by Dr.S.S.Bagel, Vice
Chancellor, Assam Agricultural university, Jorhat
on New Vistas of Agricultural Research in India with
an accent on C o m m e r c i a l P r o d u c t i o n and
Processing of Horticultural Crops of North Eastern
States and by Dr.Jayanta Madhab, Advisor to Chief
Minister f Assam, on the Prospects & Problems of
Horticulture Development in the North East . The
business session of the meet discussed the state
wise developments and the policy and operational
^
^
•
^
Non-availability of adequate quantity of
quality planting materials.
•
Inadequate extension services from the
State G o v e r n m e n t s including farmers
training on modern technologies, post
harvest handling, etc.
•
Absence of adequate marketing infrastructure.
•
Price fluctuation in horticulture products.
•
Inadequate post harvest management
facilities including processing infrastructure.
•
Grossly inadequate manpower at bank
branch level, particularly technical to take
care of horticultural projects.
•
Banks'
apathy
towards
horticultural activities.
•
Lack of entrepreneurship acceptable to the
banks in most states.
•
Inadequate coordination amongst different
agencies such as those concerned with
horticulture development with institutional
credit facilities.
•
Insurance coverage.
•
Non availability of updated land records to
facilitate mortgaging.
•
Small fragmented land holding.
•
Stronghold of middlemen in marketing the
horticultural products.
•
Poor connectivity from farms to road heads
to markets.
'
financing
A field visit was undertaken to a tea estate and a
tea factory run by Tata Tea. The diversification
programme within the tea estate into floriculture
and allied agricultural activities, initiated by Tata Tea
gave the participants a first hand insight on the
enterprising ability of the Company in their effort
to revive the tea industry.
^
•afe 10, 2007
^te^pf/sS^te
Prsfr "qft^jrcR %^ ,
WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT AND
MANAGEMENT DISCIPLINE
Tlie Business Development Meet of Officers of Water
Resources Development and Management Discipline
w a s h e l d at W a t e r T e c h n o l o g y C e n t r e (WTC),
Coimbatore f r o m 7 - 9 August 2006. The objective of
the meet was to take stock of the changing scenario,
make plans for the future and to draft a plan of action
for 2006-07. The Meet was attended by 36 officers
f r o m various Regional Officers and HO of NABARD.
The Meet was inaugurated by Shri K.V. Ragavulu, CGM,
Tamil Nadu RO. In his inaugural address Shri Ragavulu
flagged issues like pricing of water, efficiency of power
and irrigation for discussion. He also touched upon
the Vaidhyanathan C o m m i t t e e and the X Finance
Commission. Dr. M.V. Rangaswami, Director, Water
Technology Centre, Tamil Nadu A g r i c u l t u r a l
University(TNAU), in his address, emphasised on the
sustainability aspects of water resources management
projects. He highlighted the urgent need for water
resources management t h r o u g h the use of micro
irrigation system. He feared that Tamil Nadu may soon
become another desert as the water table had gone
d o w n in many parts of the state. Shri J o h n Kurien,
CGM, TSD gave a brief presentation on the overview
of activities of WRD&M/MI discipline. He also released
the national status paper prepared on Minor Irrigation
during the occasion.
T h i s w a s f o l l o w e d by
presentations by resource persons from Central Ground
Water Board, Ministry of Agriculture, Go!, faculties from
Water Technology Centre, TNAU, Jain Irrigation Limited
and senior officers in the Irrigation sector. Shri John
Kurien guided the deliberations of the Meet and spoke
in detail on the Vision for Future for the Water Resources
Development and Management Discipline Officers.
S o m e of the i m p o r t a n t national level issues that
emerged during the meet are :
•
Exploringthepossibility of supporting micro level
s t u d i e s in o v e r e x p l o i t e d areas by t h e State
Government under R&D Fund of NABARD.
•
Ensuring exploration of recharging ground water
in project areas, extraction of water only f r o m
deeper aquifers by incorporating the same as a
part of our terms and conditions f o r projects
sanctioned under RIDF
•
•
w h e r e g r o u n d w a t e r is o v e r e x p l o i t e d .
Categorisation of blocks as per GEC-1997 to be
notified to all SLBCs for compliance.
Emphasis on issues like ground water legislation,
participatory irrigation management, revival of
failed wells c o m p e n s a t i o n scheme and
c o n j u n c t i v e use of w a t e r specially in canal
c o m m a n d areas.
P r o m o t i o n of m i c r o i r r i g a t i o n a c t i v i t y f o r
s u s t a i n a b l e u t i l i s a t i o n of w a t e r r e s o u r c e s
especially in critical and over exploited ground
water areas and other water scarce areas. There
is a need for standardisation of low cost micro
irrigation systems and their wide scale availability.
Ground water governance is the need of the hour.
Some states like Govt, of Andhra Pradesh has
enacted APWALTA 2002 & 2004 to promote water
conservation, regulate exploitation and use of
ground and surface water.
Formation of WUAs should be made mandatory
and they may be involved right from the planning
stage and overhead and maintenance should be
entrusted to t h e m .
The security deposit / power connection charges
and recurring charges should be rationalised in
order to enable small / marginal farmers to be
able to use power supply. This is in view of the
n o n - a v a i l a b i l i t y of p o w e r ( b o t h in t e r m s of
quantity and quality) which is acting as a major
deterrent for operation of agricultural pump sets.
Impact assessment studies of Ml investments and
correction action are required in some states
The existing MIS needs a relook to capture the
f l o w of i n s t i t u t i o n a l f i n a n c e under d i f f e r e n t
investments of Ml discipline.
F
gllWPWWtf^,^
J i - m ^ ^ ^ ^ ,
••m •
^^^^^^^
Examining the technical details of efficient and
low cost foreign made p u m p sets since the same
are not eligible for NABARD refinance due to lack
of BIS certification.
. •«•
MJ^^^H
Revisiting the existing NABARD circulars on
eligible investments in critical areas and areas
33
"—*—
1 .iji
f
1
1 ^ ^ ISSUE 10, 2007 For Private circulation only
TICHHICftl/DIUEs"
* - t'*-^:^t'ig^
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY IN DAIRY INDUSTRY
NABARD has supported a research Project for using
The s o f t w a r e " H e r d m a n " used for analysing t h e
i n f o r m a t i o n Technology in Dairy Sector.
data f r o m the village centres, provides the following
report:
The project has t w o major parts viz.,
^
/
,
(i) Breed Master : Breed-wise data, (ii) Farm Master :
A. Herd Health : The first major part is to collect
Farm-wise data, (iii) Staff Master : Staff-wise data,
data on health of animals, e x a m i n e the clinical data
(iv) Parameter Master : Parameter-wise data and (v)
as revealed f r o m blood and dung samples collected,
Source Master : Source-wise data.
apart f r o m individual animal data and w o r k out the
average for each village (treating each village as a
Collection of Data and Follow- up
herd). The findings in each village is c o m p a r e d w i t h
accepted norms and the p r o b l e m s existing in each
An action list generated on the animals tells the village
village is identified and solutions s u g g e s t e d . This
level worker, which are the animals to be examined
has b r o u g h t out revealing results. For e x a m p l e , in
for heat or pregnancy, which animals are expected to
a village
Blood
calve etc. An alarm list is also generated which gives
iron
him a list of animals which are having delayed heat,
the
Corpuscles
Haemoglobin
counts
are
low
and
Red
indicating
fertility problems, low milk yield etc.
deficiency. This result was further c o n f i r m e d f r o m
e x a m i n a t i o n of f a e c a l s a m p l e s , w h i c h
showed
This is an excellent tool in the hands of paravet.s and
presence of w o r m s w h i c h suck b l o o d and reduce
iron level in b l o o d of animals.
veterinarians, w h o supervise the village level workers,
Suitable remedies
as they can easily identify and treat the animals before
have been suggested.
they actually become sick. In dairy farming, if a heat
Similarly, the study has b r o u g h t out that, average
is missed (animal not inseminated), 21 days milk
c a l v i n g i n t e r v a l d i f f e r s b y m o r e t h a n 90 d a y s
production is lost.
b e t w e e n villages indicating that, in s o m e villages
some effort has been made to record the observations
breeding m a n a g e m e n t needs to be i m p r o v e d .
for future use.
In
For the first time in our country,
some area, soil analysis reveals, calcium is adequate
and there is no need for calcium supplement in feed
of animals. This type of analysis can help to prevent
p o o r p e r f o r m a n c e and m i n e r a l m i x t u r e s h a v i n g
required ingredients only are used, which saves cost.
B. Performance Recording : The second major part
is about the performance recording of dairy animals.
In our country, the most i m p o r t a n t factor affecting
t h e efficiency of animal i m p r o v e m e n t is, lack of
records.
T h e p r o j e c t has e m p l o y e d
suitable
h a r d w a r e , w h i c h can be u s e d by v i l l a g e l e v e l
w o r k e r s for r e c o r d i n g t h e p e r f o r m a n c e of dairy
Data Management
animals. The software d e v e l o p e d , can be used by
milk
unions,
private
dairy
units
and
even
The data is available at three levels.
G o v e r n m e n t cattle f a r m s .
(1)
Development of Software
At the farm level, the owner has approximate
figures. Animals can have a chip embedded in
the body which can store all information.
Project envisages r e c o r d i n g t h e data of all animals
f r o m villages by field level para-veterinarians by a
(2)
handheld PC (simputer), w h i c h are transferred to
At the livestock centre in the village level which
maintains data on all animals. The plan is to
PC at the milk union f o r analysis, identification of
put-up t o u c h screen so that, farmers will have
p r o b l e m s and suggesting remedial measures.
access to i n f o r m a t i o n on o w n animals. This
'34'
^tetPFr 315=^^
PC also will get results of analysis done at milk
(3)
union level which will help farmers to understand
3jg; 10.2007. f ^ Ci^ct-l %f
At milk union level which maintains all data on
all animals covered by it. Our project supports
t h e local p r o b l e m s a n d use t h e r e m e d i e s
maintenance of data at this level only. However,
suggested. For example, iron deficiency and
the milk unions is interested in maintaining data
reason for this like w o r m infestation. Classifying
at village level, so that, feedback to farmers is easy.
data breed-wise and unit-wise, generates average
From the project, dairy farmers are benefitted
results which can be compared with accepted
norms and level of performance at the unit or
;
through reduction of infection in animals and
feeding cost and increase in milk production.
village level can be zeroed on.
ON FARM RESEARCH ON PULSES - MAJOR FINDINGS
NABARD has sanctioned the above R&D project to
crop will give higher yield when sown during
Tamil N a d u Rice Research I n s t i t u t e , A d a t h a v a i ,
15 January to 15 February.
T h a n j a v u r D i s t r i c t , Tamil N a d u w h i c h has been
completed successfully.
O p t i m u m plant p o p u l a t i o n is the basis for
higher yield. O p t i m u m seed rate of 30 kg/ ha
The existing viable technologies adopted by the pulse
is recommended. The gaps are to be filled with
g r o w i n g farmers and constraints in a d o p t i n g the
p r e - s p r o u t e d seeds t o m a i n t a i n o p t i m u m
improved technologies in the Cauvery c o m m a n d area
population.
of T h a n j a v u r a n d N a g a p a t t i n a m d i s t r i c t s w e r e
identified through a comprehensive survey conducted
a m o n g the selected farmers, f o l l o w e d by on-farm
experiments conducted during 2000-2003. There is
significant improvement in adoption of the technology
by the selected farmers when compared to pre-project
survey. Major findings that emerged f r o m the studies
are follows:
1.
To prevent the spread of seed borne diseases,
pre-seed treatment with fungicide/ bio-control
agent is to be resorted. For this seed treatment
with Trichoderma viride @ 4 gm/kg of seeds
or Pseudomonas @ 10 gm/kg or Carbendazim
@ 2 gm/kg must be done to prevent root rot
disease. For leaf crinkle disease, spraying with
Dimethonate @ 500 ml/ha is recommended.
Pulses are g r o w n in rice-fallow utilising the
To control leaf beetles and pod borer, Neem
residual moisture and the moisture obtained
Seed Kernel extract @ 5% or Neem Oil @ 3%
f r o m dew. The seed is broadcasted in the
can be sprayed.
standing rice field, 5 to 10 days before the
harvest of rice w h e n t h e soil m o i s t u r e is
Foliar spraying of 2 % ADP -t- 40 PPM NAA on
o p t i m u m , i.e., seed should get embedded in
25 and 40 Days gives higher grain yield in rice-
wet waxy layer. Black gram and green gram
f a l l o w black g r a m (ADT3) w i t h increase in
are the t w o main pulses g r o w n .
number of pod on plant and in number of seeds
In black gram, high yielding varieties like A D T 1 ,
was 639 kg/ha with m i n i m u m of 375 kg/ha and
ADT2, ADT3, ADT4 and in green gram ADT2
m a x i m u m of 1250 kg/ha.
per pod. The average yield of sample farmers
2.
and ADT3 are f o u n d to be suitable for riceFor new Cauvery Delta area where irrigation
fallow situation.
facility is available, black gram variety ADT5 is
3.
To realize higher yields f r o m rice fallow, the
highly suitable through suitable foliar spray of
correct time of sowing is very important. The
nutrient mix.
^ ^ ^ — • ^ ^
10, 2007 For Private circulation only
TECHNICAL DIGEST
INCENTIVISING FARMERS FOR ORGANIC FARMING
B.K. Samal and H.N. Bhuyan
Organic farming is a production system of crops that
avoids the use of synthetic and chemical inputs like
fertilisers, pesticides, growth regulators and livestock
feed additives. Application of genetically modified
organisms and irradiation of f o o d stuffs are prohibited
under organic farming system. It is a system approach
utilising natural cycles and biological interactions for
c r o p p r o d u c t i o n and p r o t e c t i o n . This m e t h o d of
farming produce f o o d for healthy consumption and at
the same time protect the soil and environment. India
as a leading agriculture producer and with a tradition
of organic farming has unique opportunities to capture
growing organic markets both in fresh and processed
f o r m s , in the domestic and export market. However,
desired growth is not there due to lack of awareness
and constraints faced by farmers for going organic.
Under the c i r c u m s t a n c e s , NABARD m a n a g e m e n t
Committee in one of its decisions advised TSD to
examine if incentivisation is required for encouraging
farmers to go in for organic farming and to identify
areas of incentivisation if required.
remain unbroken after pounding and weight
more with less volume indicating higher density.
Rice recovery ratio is higher (100 : 70) against the
inorganic (100 : 60).
4.
Organic farming improves soil qualities f r o m
physical chemical and biological point of view.
5.
The National Project on Organic
components. Different subsidy schemes related
to
With organic farming the yield gets stabilised
after the end of the conversion period (2 to 3
years). The differences in yields and economics
of organic and conventional systems are only
marginal and organic systems offer comparable
productivity.
farming
have
been
floated/
Government of Maharashtra.
6.
Major cost components for organic production
are i n p u t s like c o m p o s t / v e r m i
compost,
certification, transportation, storage, cleaning,
sorting, packing and marketing, which makes
organic cultivation higher than conventional
farming.
7.
1.
organic
i m p l e m e n t e d by G o v e r n m e n t of India and
In an attempt to examine the issue of incentivising
farmers to go for organic f a r m i n g . TSD, HO has
conducted one field study in Yavatmal, Amaravati and
Pune s o m e selected districts of Maharashtra and
interacted with some leading firms that has gone for
organic.
Major Observations
Farming
initiated by G o v e r n m e n t of India has limited
India has 20 crores potential customers for
;
o r g a n i c p r o d u c t s t o be t a p p e d .
T h e r e is
increasing d e m a n d for organic food items in
. Mumbai market with an annual demand growth
- of about 4 0 % . The growth in other Indian cities
is also very fast.
8k
Total a n n u a l m a r k e t f o r organic p r o d u c t is
around $ 13 billion. In developed countries, the
organic f o o d trade represents about 2 % of the
total f o o d trade.
Indian e x p o r t markets in
European countries including U.K., USA and
Japan are expanding.
9.
The retail prices of organic items are significantly
higher than the regular ones.
2.
3.
Inadequacy of i n p u t material availability is
n o t i c e a b l e . C o m p o s t / v e r m i c o m p o s t is
produced in the villages mostly for o w n use;
no commercial unit is there in any of the villages
c o v e r e d . S o m e f a r m e r s w h o d o not have
sufficient or any cattle, prefer to stay inorganic.
Physical quality of grain/product improves under
organic s y s t e m of p r o d u c t i o n . Rice grains
Deputy General Managers, TSD, HO
10.
Agencies like Eco-farm, Maharashtra Organic
Farmers' Federation, etc. facilitate group training
to farmers, provide guidance, purchase organic
farm products and facilitate marketing.
11.
Major constraints faced by the organic farmers are:
i.
Shortage of input materials including cow
dung.
iflHiPel/iSSS
ii.
Certification - cost and complicated
procedure.
finance for crops grown under organic system
and enhanced refinance support.
Farmers may be incentivised for rearing more
cattle to have more cowdung/compost and also
for establishing bigger vermi compost units.
iv. Market linkage.
V. State support.
:
Capital subsidy scheme on organic farming may
be extended for production of biopesticides and
compost from other bio-resources.
For realising premium price, two important
requirements are :
I '
i.
Facilities for testing and certifying the
produce as organic at local level.
Production subsidy may be provided for
popularising organic inputs at affordable retail
prices as done for chemical fertilisers.
ii. Adequate and appropriate market
infrastructure exclusively for organic
products, so as to prevent mixing up with
conventional products and to enable
fetching premium prices providing
safeguard to the farmers'interest.
Creation of infrastructure for testing and
certifying at local level.
7.
Recommendations
1.
Prat MR'MMH %g
There is a need to develop separate scale of
iii. Capacity building.
12.
3T^ 10, 2007
Cost of certification being costly, may be
incentivised.
Service providers such as NGOs may be
incentivised for providing training, technologies,
exploring marketing, etc.
Banks may give priority to projects related to
organic farming.
^^-4^
Hi-tech market infrastructure - The TN initiative
The Tamil Nadu Government is reported to be planning to create terminal markets for agriculture
produce with necessary infrastructure in three places, to eliminate post-harvest loss and ensure
remunerative prices to farmers. These markets will have facilities such as collection centres,
pre-cooling equipment, sorting and treatment facilities, and electronic auction. They will be
established in Chennai, Coimbatore and Madurai, declared the State Finance Minister, Mr. K.
Anbazhagan recently. Presenting the 2006-07 budget, he said these markets will provide good
export opportunities besides enhancing marketing prospects for agricultural produce. He said
cold storage facilities will be created for onion in Palladam in Coimbatore district, for mangoes
in Krishnagiri district, and for grapes at Odaipatti in Theni district to enable export of these
produce. The Government will also take action to produce ethanol in all sugar mills for blending
it with petrol. Farmers will be encouraged to cultivate sweet sorghum and sugar beet as these
can also be used for producing ethanol.
37
ISSUE 10, 2007 For Private circulation only
TECHNICAL/DiGlST
BROILER POULTRY IN BODOLAND
Thanks to the initiative of our Assam Regional Office ,
we have formed a nucleus of contract broiler farming
in Assam. It all started at a workshop held in
Guwahathi. With the great demand for poultry meat,
the potential for the activity in Northeast is very high.
VHPL accepted our request to establish a centre for
broiler farming. RO acted as a catalyst and coordinated
the entire plan by liaising with State Government, local
people etc. In spite of many teething troubles,
persistence paid off in the end. The present position is:.
•
•
•
•
•
Venkateswara Hatcheries Pvt. Ltd ( VHPL) supply
chicks, feed, equipment like feeder, waterer, and
also help in marketing.
So far no bank finance is involved.
There were threats from local poultry Industry but
our RO has enlisted the support of locals.
Our staff in Guwahathi RO really deserve to be
congratulated for the unique efforts taken.
With the cooperation of Venkateswara Hatcheries
in Kolkotta, persons in 4 districts of Assam were
trained on broiler farming.
65 units under contract farming has been
established with the help of local authorities. (6
units by Bodo women. (Kokrajar and Chirang
districts)
Average size of farm is 2000 birds
Bodoland Livestock Farming and Marketing
Society(BLFM) is providing help for cheap shed
construction (Bodo Tribal Council has announced
assistance to farmers for poultry farming).
Another 100 new groups are being formed and
they will take up broiler farming after training.
NATIONAL FISHERIES DEVELOPMENT BOARD
With the objective of achieving full potentials of Indian fisheries. Government of India has constituted "National
Fisheries Development Board (NFDB)" under the Ministry of Agriculture with a budget of Rs. 2,100 Crores
during 2006-2012. The board consists of Governing Body and Executive Committee, whereChairman of NABARD
is a member of the Governing Body and Managing Director of NABARD is the member of Executive Committee.
The Headquarter of the NFDB is at Hyderabad.
The objectives of NFDB are as follows:
1.
To bring major activities relating to fisheries and aquaculture for focused attention and professional
management.
2.
To coordinate activities pertaining to fisheries undertaken by different Ministries/ Departments in the
central government and also coordinate with the State/Union Territory Governments.
3.
To improve production, processing, storage, transport and marketing of the products of capture and
culture fisheries.
4.
To achieve sustainable management and conservation of natural aquatic resources including the fish
stocks
5.
To apply modern tool of research and development including biotechnology for optimizing production
and productivity from fisheries
6.
To provide modern infrastructure mechanisms for fisheries and ensure their effective management and
optimum utilization.
7.
To generate substantial employment
8.
To train and empower women in the fisheries sector
9.
To enhance contribute offish towards food and nutritional security.