Itanagar, May 11 (KNN) The Arunachal Pradesh’s Bamboo Resource & Development Agency (APBRDA) has partnered with a joint venture of CREDUCE and HPCL for the cultivation and development of bamboo resources in the state.

This public-private partnership is boasted to be the world’s largest bamboo cultivation drive encompassing the plantation of 100,000 hectares of forest and village land with bamboo, also called ‘green gold’.

The agreement was signed under the leadership Arunachal Pradesh’s Chief Minister Prema Khandu and his vision to boost the state into the green growth phase.

Chairman of APBRDA, Tungri Effa, said, “We are proud to be the torchbearer of this exciting new project. It is in line with the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has resolved to make Bharat clean and green by 2030. The development and plantation of ‘Green Gold’ would benefit the state as it will generate large scale employment and keep the people connected to their roots.”

The yields from this joint venture would last for over 30 years, divided into three phases of 10 years each. The effort is the first among many more to come as all the northeastern states have fertility for bamboo cultivation.

Shailendra Singh Rao, MD, CTPL, said, “Through this agreement, we will be able to cultivate 100 million carbon credits in 10 years, which will be valued at USD 1.5 billion over the same period.”

Bamboo plantation and cultivation is an effective carbon sink and an integral nature-based approach to mitigating global warming.

Studies have revealed that a one-hectare plantation of bamboo and its products could sequestrate 10,000 kilograms of carbon per hectare per year, making them effective green gold ventures. (KNN Bureau)