Dzüvinuo Theünuo
The Department of Agriculture & Co-operation, Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India has recently launched a centrally sponsored scheme “National Bamboo Mission” (NBM) for addressing the issues relating to the development of bamboo in the country. The cost of the Mission is estimated at Rs 5.68 billion with 100% assistance of the Central Government.
The Scheme will be implemented by the Division of Horticulture under the Department of Agriculture and Cooperation in the Ministry of Agriculture, New Delhi .
The National Bamboo Mission (NBM) envisages enhancing the area under Bamboo Plantation of selected species. The total area to be covered in the 10th and 11th Plan will be 1,76,000 hectares in both the forest and non-forest land. Under this Mission it is proposed to generate employment of 9.7 lakh mandays and 50.5 million mandays through nursery and plantation activity.
The Highlights of the Mission are manifold and includes Plantation development, Handicrafts development, Craft bazaar and marketing, capacity building and training, besides Research and Development.
The Target Groups for the Mission are farmers, Self Help Groups (SHGs), Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), Cooperative Societies, Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and Joint Forest Management Committees (JFMCs).
The main objectives of National Bamboo Mission are:
• To promote the growth of the bamboo sector through as an area based regionally differentiated strategy;
• To increase the coverage of area under bamboo in potential areas, with improved varieties to enhance yields;
• To promote marketing of bamboo and bamboo based handicrafts;
• To establish convergence and synergy among stake-holders for the development of bamboo;
• To promote, develop and disseminate technologies through a seamless blend of traditional wisdom and modern scientific knowledge.
• To generate employment opportunities for skilled and unskilled persons, especially unemployed youths.
The National Bamboo Mission has four major components and includes Research and Development, Plantation Development, Handicrafts Development and Marketing.
In order to technically support them, NBM designated 4 (four) zonal Bamboo Technical Support Group (BTSG) where the Cane and Bamboo Technology Centre (CBTC), Guwahati has been identified as one of the Bamboo Technical Support Group (BTSG) for the States of North Eastern Region and the Eastern States of Jharkhand, West Bengal and Orissa. As a BTSG under NBM, the CBTC will perform the following activities:
• Visit the concerned States frequently to provide guidance in policy, organizational and technical matters;
• Recommend/advice appropriate species of bamboo well suited to the region or the end user;
• Compile materials for conduct of regional workshops in respect of bamboo plantations, handicraft, bamboo marketing and exports;
• Conduct studies on different aspects of bamboo;
• Assist the States in capacity building programmes;
• Undertake publicity campaigns to promote the Mission objectives;
• Document and disseminate case studies of success stories;
• Conduct specialized Training Programmes at the Regional Level;
• Network with various stakeholders and Institutes/Organizations/Agencies, both in India and abroad.
The National Bamboo Mission will have three tier structures - National Apex Committee (NAC) under the Chairmanship of Union Minister of Agriculture; National Steering Committee (NSC) headed by the Secretary, Department of Agriculture & Cooperation (DAC), to oversee the activities of the Mission and approve the Action Plans and the National Bamboo Cell (NBC) headed by the Mission Director, NBM, in the DAC, Government of India.
Overall targets to be achieved under National Bamboo Mission are - Area expansion under bamboo plantation that will cover 88,000 ha of Forest Area and 88,000 ha of Non Forest Area; establishment of Nurseries that will include 354 Centralized Nurseries, 80 Kisan Nurseries and 80 Mahila Nurseries; 3 Tissue culture units; 195 Bamboo Bazaars and 10 Retail outlets (Show Rooms) in 10 Metropolitan cities.
The state activities relating to National Bamboo Mission will be implemented through the respective Bamboo Development Agencies/ Forest Development Agencies or any other agencies approved by the respective State Governments. The fund earmarked for the year 2006-07, as approved by the National Level Steering Committee have been released to the respective states and altogether an amount of Rs 6570.98 lakhs has been released to eight North Eastern States under NBM.
Details about the National Bamboo Mission may be obtained from respective State Bamboo Mission Director or Bamboo Development Agencies/Forest Development Agencies.
Source: Cane & Bamboo Technology Centre, Guwahati.
A DIPR Feature
