Lok Sabha Question No. 763 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-04
Subject: Strengthen Agro-forestry and Bamboo based Economic Clusters in NER
Ministry: DEVELOPMENT OF NORTH EASTERN REGION
Asked by: Shri Dilip Saikia, Shri Amarsing Tisso

## Government of India Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region

## LOK  SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 763

To be answered on Wednesday, February 04, 2026/Magha 15, 1947 (Saka)

## QUESTION

## Strengthen Agro-forestry and Bamboo based Economic Clusters in NER

## † 763. Shri Dilip Saikia:

## Shri Amarsing Tisso:

Will the Minister of DEVELOPMENT OF NORTH EASTERN REGION be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of the measures taken by the Government to strengthen agro-forestry and bamboo based economic clusters in North Eastern Region (NER), especially in Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao districts of Assam;
- (b) the  progress  made  in  terms  of  project  sanctioning,  investor  engagement,  export promotion and enterprise development; and
- (c) the  details  of  achievements  recorded  in  terms  of  economic  growth,  valueaddition,employment and market access for producers and artisans in the region?

## ANSWER

## The Minister of State of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region [Dr. Sukanta Majumdar]

(a), (b) & (c): Promotion of agroforestry and bamboo sectors are mainly undertaken by State Governments.  However,  Government  of  India  through  Ministry  of  Agriculture  &  Farmers Welfare, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) also supplements the efforts of the States by providing support to specific projects in these sectors.

As  per  Ministry  of  Agriculture  &  Farmers  Welfare,  to  promote  agroforestry,  the Government has been implementing a Centrally Sponsored Scheme under Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Krishi  Vikas  Yojana  (PMRKVY)  since  2023-24.  The  scheme  focuses  on establishing and strengthening nurseries and supplying Quality Planting Material including seeds,  seedlings,  clones,  hybrids,  and  improved  varieties  to  farmers  for  increasing  tree cover on farmlands. It is implemented by States/UTs across the country, including those in the  North  Eastern  Region.  In  Assam,  assistance  has  been  provided  for  nursery  creation, training,  and  free  sapling  distribution  including  those  in  Karbi  Anglong  and  Dima  Hasao districts.

The  scheme  operates  through  Annual  Action  Plans  submitted  by  States/UTs  and supports  activities  such  as  nurseries  and  agroforestry  demonstration  plots.  Assam  was allocated Rs. 4.50 crore during 2023-24 to 2024-25, of which Rs. 4.09 crore was released, leading to establishment of 35 new nurseries. In FY 2025-26 so far, Rs. 5.20 crore has been released, and 51 new nurseries have been established.

Since its launch in 2023-24, PMRKVY-Agroforestry in Assam is now in its third year. Preliminary  findings  show  contributions  to  income  diversification  and  livelihood  support through tree-based farming systems, including bamboo agroforestry. Emphasis is placed on promoting  intercrops  with  tree  plantations,  enabling  farmers  to  earn  short-term  returns during the gestation period of tree crops, thereby improving economic viability and reducing risk.

Further, the Assam State Bamboo Mission (ASBM) has also implemented extensive bamboo  plantation  initiatives,  especially  in  Karbi  Anglong  and  Dima  Hasao  districts, covering approximately 1,585 hectare from 2019 to 2026. They have established nurseries, conducted  awareness  programs,  and  trained  around  300  farmers  in  scientific  bamboo cultivation.  A  study  showed  substantial  bamboo  resources  in  both  districts,  facilitating cluster development planning. The mission has engaged in enterprise development through events  like  the  Assam  Bamboo  Conclave  and  has  supported  a  Bamboo  Incense  Stick Making  Cluster  with  significant  financial  backing.  Economic  impacts  include  planting  of  6 lakh  saplings  and  distribution  of  high-yielding  varieties  of  bamboo,  creating  livelihood opportunities. Skill development trainings have benefited over 400 participants. Additionally, 1,022 toolkits were distributed, and processed bamboo products were incorporated into the Assam  PWD  Schedule  of  Rates,  enhancing  market  accessibility  and  employment  for bamboo artisans.

To harness bamboo-based economic clusters in NER, the Ministry of DoNER  has recently  sanctioned  two  projects  for  strengthening  traditional  bamboo  artisan  clusters through market access, product modernization, and integration with digital/retail ecosystems as  well  as  promotion  of  engineered  bamboo  products  through  cluster  strengthening  and export facilitation, covering Karbi Anglong (Assam) and Mokokchung (Nagaland). It includes state-of-the-art  processing  units,  certified  bamboo  plantations,  and  training  for  youth  and artisans in advanced technologies.

NECBDC has signed MoUs with leading e-Commerce partners to enable bamboo products from the North East reach national and international markets to position North East Bamboo product on the global stage.

Over the last ten years, under NEC Schemes, 42 projects related to the agroforestry and bamboo sector worth Rs. 230.31 crore have been supported.

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