Madhya Pradesh tops in bamboo resources in country with bamboo bearing area of 1.84 million hectare

According to the recent Indian Forest Survey Report (IFSR) 2021, Madhya Pradesh has a highest bamboo bearing area of 18,394 square kilometres followed by Arunachal Pradesh (15,739 sq km), Maharashtra (13,526 sq km) and Odisha (11,199 sq km). The total bamboo bearing area estimated in the country is 1,49,443 sq kilometres.

Besides, the pure bamboo area in Madhya Pradesh is 847 square kilometres, dense area is 4046 square kilometres, sparse area is 8327 square kilometres and regeneration is 3,245 square kilometres which is the highest in the country.

Bamboo cultivation is being promoted in Madhya Pradesh through the Bamboo Mission Scheme. Bamboo based industries are being developed, so that more employment opportunities can be created here. New techniques and technologies are being adopted in bamboo cultivation in the state, according to an official release.

Additionally, the necessary infrastructure is being developed for bamboo based industries. Bamboo plantation has been done in 25,090 hectares of agricultural area in the state, it added.

Furthermore, to encourage participation of farmers and promote bamboo plantation, it has been promoted in the agricultural sector under the Bamboo Mission Scheme. Bamboo plantation has been done in a total area of 25,090 hectares in the state, in which the state government has also given a plantation grant to 14,670 farmers in the last five years. Farmers are given a grant of Rs 120 a plant for planting bamboo in the agricultural sector, which is given in the ratio of 50:30:20 in 3 years. The income of farmers is increasing due to bamboo cultivation and the role of bamboo in environmental protection and vegetation growth is being promoted, it added.

Along with this, there is also a provision of 25 to 50 percent subsidy to encourage bamboo plantation in the private sector, the release further added. (ANI)