The Punjab government in order to promote bamboo farming in the state, is ready to formally launch Central government-sponsored National Bamboo Mission Programme (NBMP) in April.
Punjab has been chosen as nodal state by agriculture ministry to implement the mission for promoting cultivation, value addition, processing and marketing of bamboo crops in the state. For the realisation of the project, the state government has already secured the grant of nearly Rs 4 crore for the financial year 2007-08.
Giving more details of the project, Jitendra Sharma, chief conservator of forests (hills), Punjab said, “We had submitted a detailed proposal to the Centre to promote bamboo crops in the state. Under this mission 1,000 hectare of forest area and 1,000 hectare of non-forest area will be covered. Bamboo development authorities have been appointed at the district level which will take care of non-forest area. For forest area, forest development agencies will be held responsible. It has been estimated that initially the scheme will benefit around 3,000 farmers. Moreover, a farmer can earn approximately Rs 30,000 per acre with the cultivation of bamboo crops.”
The state has already constituted Punjab Bamboo and Fiber Development Board to supervise implementation of bamboo promotion, conservation and value addition programmes.