BHUBANESWAR: In its effort to increase the area under bamboo plantation in private lands to supplement farm income, the State Government will provide an assistance of Rs 50,000 per hectare (ha).
The financial assistance will be provided to bamboo cultivators from the current financial year under the restructured National Bamboo Mission (NBM). Earlier, the Government assistance for bamboo plantation was Rs10,500 per ha.
Chairing a meeting of the first State level executive committee under the restructured bamboo mission, Chief Secretary AP Padhi approved the annual action plan of Rs12.56 crore for bamboo cultivation and development of industries in bamboo sector.
After implementation of programmes under National Bamboo Mission in 2007-08, the State has increased the area under bamboo plantation from 10,000 ha to 12,000 ha. Currently, 66 small nurseries in public sector, 28 nurseries in private sector, 41 kisan and 47 women nurseries are active in development of bamboo propagation.
The NBM, started as a Centrally sponsored scheme in 2006-07, was mainly emphasising on propagation and cultivation of bamboo with limited efforts on processing, product development and value addition. There was weak linkage between producers and the industry.
The restructured proposal gives emphasis on propagation of quality plantations of bamboo, product development and value addition including primary processing and treatment, development of micro, small and medium enterprises as well as high value products, marketing and skill development, addressing the complete value chain for growth of bamboo sector, official sources said.