The Maharashtra Bamboo Development Board (MBDB) organised an international conference on bamboo promotion. Principal Chief Conservator of Forest Umesh Kumar Agrawal was the chief guest at the inaugural ceremony. Managing Director, Forest Development Corporation of Maharashtra (FDCM) Dr N Rambabu was the guest of honour.
Agrawal said that optimal use of bamboo will generate employment for farmers, rural artisans and tribals. “State government has launched various schemes to promote bamboo – both cultivation and use. Bamboo has multiple uses. Apart from making articles and furniture, it can be used in manufacture of bio-fuel,” he added.
He informed that the Bamboo Research and Training Centre was using bamboo structure for its building at Chichpalli village in Chandrapur district. “MBDB is making efforts to ensure that farmers can avail loan to grow bamboo on large-scale in their fields. Entrepreneurs can use this raw material by value-additional to the products. The government has also established Bamboo Foundation with a view to promote bamboo sector in cooperation with corporates, private parties,” he said.
Dr Rambabu said that tie-up between FDCM, MBDB, industry and farmers would bring expected results. National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) is to use bio mass for reducing emissions, he said adding, the current ethanol demand would require plantation of bamboo in 2,56,000 hectares.
Let us grow bamboo outside forest lands and mobilise farmers to grow more bamboo in their fields. FDCM will do turn-key projects from ten hectares and above area, he added. Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (IT, Policy) Praveen Srivastava, Additional PCCFs T K Choubey, Sanjeev Gaur, A R Mande, bamboo expert, Anand Fiske and others were present at the programme.
