Growth in sight

Guwahati, May 11: The National Bamboo Mission has released Rs 53 crore to the Northeast and given top priority to the region, which has immense bamboo resources.

The department of agriculture and co-operation under the ministry of agriculture had launched a centrally- sponsored scheme, the National Bamboo Mission, in October 2006, to address issues relating to the development of bamboo.

A sum of Rs 568.23 crore has been approved for the mission, with 100 per cent assistance from the Centre. The sum includes an outlay of Rs 91.37 crore for 2006-07 under the Tenth Five Year Plan and its implementation during the current fiscal and the first four years of the Eleventh Plan.

Sources said the northeastern states, which have the best resources, should make best use of the funds released by the mission.

The main objectives of the mission are to increase the cultivation of bamboo, with improved varieties to enhance yields, to promote marketing of bamboo-based handicraft and generate employment opportunities for skilled and unskilled persons, especially unemployed youths.

The horticulture division under the department of agriculture and co-operation in the Union ministry of agriculture will implement the scheme. An area of 1,76,000 hectares will be brought under bamboo cultivation in both forest and non-forest areas.

The mission proposes to generate employment for 9.7 lakh man days and 500.5 lakh man days through nursery and plantation activities.

Four zonal bamboo technical support groups have been established to provide technical support to the National Bamboo Mission.

The Cane and Bamboo Technology Centre, Guwahati, has been designated as the zonal bamboo technical support group for the northeastern states, along with West Bengal, Jharkhand and Orissa.

The technical support group under the bamboo mission will visit these states frequently to provide guidance regarding policy, organisational and technical matters.

They will also impart advice regarding the species of bamboo well suited to the particular region.

They will also contact various stakeholders and institutes, both in India and abroad, for funds.

The main target groups under the bamboo mission are farmers, self-help groups, non-governmental organisations, co-operative societies, panchayati raj institutions and joint forest management committees.

The National Bamboo Mission has four major components — research and development, plantation development, handicraft development and marketing.