New Delhi, Jan 8 (KNN) As many as 88 Bamboo Treatment Units, 464 Product Development / Processing Units, 135 Infrastructure Projects for Promotion and Development of Bamboo Markets, and an area of 15740 ha for plantation has been approved, Minister of State for Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Parshottam Rupala informed Lok Sabha.

He said that the restructured National Bamboo Mission (NBM) was approved in April, 2018 for implementation till the end of 14th Finance Commission i.e. 2019-20.

The scheme aims to inter-alia supplement farm income of farmers with focus on the development of complete value chain of bamboo sector linking growers with industry.

In a written reply to house, he said “17 states have so far been covered under the mission and an amount of Rs.111.05 crore has been released (till 31.12.2018) based on the annual action plans.”  

The scheme is being implemented in non-forest Government land, farmers field in states where it has social, commercial and economical advantage, including the bamboo rich States of North Eastern region and Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Karnataka, Uttarakhand, Bihar, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

Financial assistance to North Eastern states is provided in the ratio of 90:10 between central & state government, he added.

He said “A number of consultations have been held with state governments and Industry to invigorate the bamboo sector in the region.”

The total amount of funds released to North Eastern states excluding Meghalaya during the year 2018-19 was Rs 5225.71 lakhs, according to data revealed by Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare.