A grant of over Rs one crore 22 lakh has been issued to 9 bamboo production units sanctioned for bamboo products to increase the income of bamboo growing farmers. A target has been set to establish 32 bamboo based units in the state this year.
Forest Minister Kunwar Vijay Shah said that it is clear from the webinar organized by the National Bamboo Mission in collaboration with the Indian Bank Association that Madhya Pradesh is the only state in the country where the work of bamboo production units has started.
While encouraging officials associated with Bamboo Mission, Kunwar Shah said that due to positive efforts, successful results have come out. He has also given instructions to accelerate efforts in this direction.
CEO of State Bamboo Mission and Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Abhay Kumar Patil said that more than 15 lakh bamboo saplings as per the target were planted by the Mission in the last few years on the land of farmers for doubling their income and improving the environment whereas bamboo has been planted in only 3500 hectare private area in 2020.
After four years of plantation, bamboo can be cut and enables the farmer to earn more than Rs one lakh per acre annually.
The National Bamboo Mission Scheme has provision for a bank ended subsidy scheme for setting up bamboo products industry. Bankable projects of aspiring entrepreneurs are also being made free of cost by the Mission. So far 9 units have been approved and a grant of Rs 1 crore 22 lakh 65 thousand has been issued on the recommendation of banks. Apart from this, the consent of the concerned banks has also been obtained for the project of five entrepreneurs.
Other formalities are being completed soon as per the scheme. Projects of the other four entrepreneurs have been made and handed over to them. The State Bamboo Mission will establish a network of industries producing bamboo products in the state in the next five years and farmers will be able to sell their bamboo in their district.