Maharashtra Unveils Rs 50,000-Crore Bamboo Industry Policy to Create 5 Lakh Jobs

Mumbai, Oct 15 (KNN) The Maharashtra government has approved the Bamboo Industry Policy 2025, aiming to establish the state as a national leader in bamboo-based industries and sustainable farming.

The policy, cleared at a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, targets an investment of Rs 50,000 crore and the creation of over five lakh jobs in the next decade.

Over the next five years, the state plans to develop 15 bamboo clusters, with major hubs in Amravati and Bhandara, which already have strong production bases.

The initiative seeks to provide farmers with a sustainable alternative to cash crops, aligning with the National Bamboo Mission and Maharashtra Mission 2023. With its vast cultivable wastelands and favourable climate, Vidarbha is expected to play a central role in this transformation.

Currently, Maharashtra ranks third in bamboo cultivation nationwide, covering 1.35 million hectares and producing 9.47 lakh tonnes annually. Experts estimate production could surge to 157 lakh tonnes with better land utilisation.

A budget of Rs 1,534 crore has been allocated for implementing the policy (2025–30), while Rs 11,797 crore is earmarked for long-term bamboo development.

For FY2025–26, Rs 50 crore has been sanctioned to kickstart implementation. The government will also establish anchor units and common facility centres (CFCs), including micro-CFCs in rural areas to aid artisans and craftsmen.

The policy includes a Rs 4,271-crore project, supported by the Asian Development Bank, to promote farmer producer organisations (FPOs) through training and subsidies.

Incentives such as interest and power subsidies, stamp duty concessions, and a Rs 300-crore venture capital fund will support startups and MSMEs in bamboo innovation.

With the global bamboo market projected to reach USD 88.43 billion by 2030, Maharashtra aims to secure a strong foothold in the expanding green economy — with Vidarbha at its core.

(KNN Bureau)