Potential of bamboo yet to be tapped

Bamboo, often referred to as “green gold,” is much more than a plant. It can be an economic enabler and a resource that can transform livelihoods.

India, with 13.96 million hectares of bamboo cultivation, is the second-largest bamboo producer in the world but contributes only 3-4 per cent of the global bamboo market.

In contrast, China dominates 65 per cent global market share with concerted efforts.

The foundation of its bamboo industry was private plantations that ensure a steady supply of high-quality raw material. Integrated value chain makes bamboo waste from furniture production as input for making charcoal or biofuels, creating a zero-waste ecosystem.

Focus on high-value markets such as engineered furniture, bamboo flooring and biofuels.

Mukesh Gulati, Executive Director, Foundation for MSME Clusters said despite having a large area under bamboo cultivation than China, India has not capitalised on its potential with just 1-3 per cent cultivated on private land while the remaining in forest.

This limits industrial access to raw material as organised plantations remain underdeveloped.

With 126 bamboo species, only 15 are commercially viable. Coupled with use of manual labour and traditional methods leading to India producing low-value products for agarbatti sticks and raw bamboo, leaving high-value global markets untapped.

While restrictions on bamboo harvesting were removed after it was reclassified as a grass in 2017, bureaucratic hurdles persist and discourage industrialisation.

Maharashtra’s Atal Bamboo Samruddhi Yojna promotes private and public bamboo cultivation, supports rural entrepreneurs and fosters market linkages for growth.

While Madhya Pradesh had integrated bamboo cultivation with employment schemes MGNREGA, Tripura has combined traditional knowledge with modern techniques to develop export-oriented clusters for housing and furniture production.

While a beginning has been made, Gulati said farmers should be encouraged to grow commercially viable species through subsidies and incentives.

Modern machinery for processing bamboo, coupled with R&D for innovative products can enhance productivity and competitiveness.

Establishing regional clusters with integrated processing, treatment, and storage facilities can streamline production and reduce wastage.

FMC has prepared a 10-year plan to increase economic value from ₹12,507 crore to ₹52,246 crore and create over 20 lakh jobs by enhancing productivity to 40 tonne per acre annually through scientific methods.

While the National Bamboo Mission is currently led by the Ministry of Agriculture, effective implementation requires coordination with industries, rural development authorities, and export councils, he said.