Lok Sabha Question No. 3710 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-16
Subject: National Bamboo Mission
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Sunil Kumar Singh, Raghu Ramakrishna Raju Kanumuru

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, COOPERATION AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK  SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3710 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 16 TH  JULY, 2019

## NATIONAL BAMBOO MISSION

3710.  SHRI SUNIL KUMAR SINGH:

SHRI KANUMURU RAGHU RAMA KRISHANA RAJU:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  set  up  or  reconstituted  the  National  Bamboo  Mission (NBM)  to  focus  on  this  sector  and  for  establishing  an  effective  linkage  of  producers  with industry, if so, the details thereof along with the aims and objectives thereof;
- (b) whether it is true that the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has also approved the scheme during its recent meeting if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has initiated any project targeting the development and trade of bamboo resources, if so, the action plan drawn to promote start-ups for bamboo products;
- (d) the  financial  assistance  extended  by  the  Government  during  each  of  the  last  three years and the current year for promotion of Bamboo products;
- (e) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to provide cheaper bamboo products in the country; and
- (f) the  steps  taken/being  taken  by  the  Government  to  popularize  the  use  of  bamboo products by common man of the country?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी (SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

- (a): Yes  sir.  The  restructured  National  Bamboo  Mission  (NBM)  has  been  launched  in 2018-19 to focus  on  the  development  of  complete  value  chain  of  bamboo  sector  and  link growers with markets. Major objectives of the Mission are:

1.  To  increase  the  area  under  bamboo  plantation  in  non  forest  Government  and  private lands to supplement farm income and contribute towards resilience to climate change as well as availability of quality raw material for industries.
2.  To  improve  post-harvest  management  through  establishment  of  innovative  primary processing units near the source of production, primary treatment and seasoning plants, preservation technologies and market infrastructure.
3.  To  promote  product  development  keeping  in  view  market  demand,  by  assisting  R&D, entrepreneurship & business models at micro, small and medium levels and feed bigger industry.
4.  To rejuvenate the under developed bamboo industry in India.
5.  To promote skill development, capacity building, awareness generation for development of bamboo sector from production to market demand.
6.  To  re-align  efforts  so  as  to  reduce  dependency  on  import  of  bamboo  and  bamboo products  by  way  of  improved  productivity  and  suitability  of  domestic  raw  material  for industry, so as to enhance income of the primary producers.

Budget Estimate for the year 2019-20 is Rs. 150.00 crores.

(b): Cabinet  Committee  on  Economic  Affairs  (CCEA)  approved  restructured  National Bamboo  Mission  (NBM)  as  a  Centrally  Sponsored  Scheme  in  its  meeting  held  on 25.04.2018.

(c): The activities under NBM are approved as per the Annual Action Plans received from the State Governments. The operational guidelines of NBM provide inter alia assistance for treatment, establishment of markets, incubation centres, value added product development and processing, development of tools & equipments, research & development, both in the Government and Private Sector which would include start ups also.

Scheme of Fund for Regeneration of Traditional Industries (SFURTI) is implemented by the M/o Micro Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME). It envisages providing need-based assistance for replacement of production equipment, setting up of common facility centres (CFC), product development, quality improvement, improved marketing, training and capacity building. Under the scheme, 12 bamboo related clusters have been approved in 8 States.

(d): Year wise details of financial assistance provided in last three years under erstwhile National Bamboo Mission (upto year 2017-18) & restructured National Bamboo Mission (from year 2018-19)  for development of Bamboo/ Bamboo Products is as under:-

| Year                       |   Released Amount (Lakh Rs.) |
|----------------------------|------------------------------|
| 2016-17                    |                      1689.38 |
| 2017-18                    |                      1052.54 |
| 2018-19                    |                     15003.1  |
| 2019-20 (as on 30.06.2019) |                      1248.76 |

(e): Considering the need and demand from bamboo based stakeholders and to provide cheaper bamboo products to the consumers, the Government has reduced GST on bamboo furniture  &  bamboo  flooring  to  12%.  The  Mission  also  envisages  establishment  of  primary processing units close to the production area to reduce transportation costs and complete utilization  of  bamboo  to  move  towards  zero  wastage  so  as  to  improve  economies  of entrepreneurs and lower costs to consumers.

(f): For popularizing use of bamboo & bamboo based products, seminars, conferences, awareness campaign etc. at National, State & District Levels are regularly conducted under the  restructured  NBM.  Awareness  is  also  created  through  print  and  electronic  media  and participation of NBM in fairs national & international fairs.

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