MP To Become India’s Bamboo Capital

24 June, Bhopal

With an objective of making Madhya Pradesh the countrys bamboo capital, plans are afoot to implement a special scheme wherein a target has been set to plant five crore bamboo by distributing 50 lakh rhizomes to five lakh farmers in all 51 districts during next five years.

Following three-day brainstorming at the countrys first Bamboo Investors Meet here, the state government decided that under Industrial Promotion Policy-2014, 10 per cent additional (total 25 per cent) investment subsidy of up to maximum Rs 25 lakh will be given by according status of industry to bamboo-based industries.

The Baans Mitra Puraskar will be given every year to outstanding bamboo entrepreneurs. Under the Centres Cluster Development Programme, bamboo industry clusters will be developed for institutional development of bamboo industries.

Besides, Excellence Bamboo Facility Centres will also be opened for the benefit of bamboo artisans in bamboo-dominated districts. Maximum use of bamboo products and furniture will be ensured in all government departments, especially hotels and resorts of the Tourism Development Corporation.

An initiative is also being taken for the use of bamboo furniture in schools and the Indira Aawas Yojana.

Discussions were held during Bamboo Investors Meet on tissue culture plantation, urban area plantation, social forestry, environmental benefits, constant supply of sub-varieties of bamboo as per requirement, policy related and legal aspects in bamboo sector, taxation on bamboo products and equipment and financing of bamboo-based entrepreneurship in micro, small and medium industry sector.