On March 10th, 2023, the National Bamboo Mission (NBM) organized a workshop called “The National Workshop of Bamboo Sector Development” in New Delhi. The workshop aimed to strengthen the value chain of the bamboo sector, incentivize producers, and make government schemes more effective. Dr. Abhilaksh Likhi, the Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, inaugurated the event and spoke about the Ministry’s efforts to support the NBM. He also expressed gratitude to Invest India for organizing the workshop.
The inaugural session was attended by dignitaries such as the Ambassadors of Myanmar and Serbia, the Minister of Economics from Nepal, and the Horticulture Commissioner of the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. The session saw the launch of a bamboo information website by the Bamboo Technical Support Group South Zone, Kerala Forest Research Institute (BTSG-KFRI). The website includes information about bamboo species, cultivation, activities of BTSG-KFRI, and a database of artisans, researchers, farmers, plantations, and nurseries. A book titled “Different Eco-friendly Bamboo Products and Business Opportunities,” authored by the Foundation for MSME clusters, was also launched. Additionally, a short film produced by NBM showcasing the potential of the Indian bamboo sector was screened.
The Horticulture Commissioner, Dr. Prabhat Kumar, set the context for the workshop by highlighting the growth drivers for bamboo, such as the increasing awareness of sustainable and eco-friendly products, investments in infrastructure development, and the use of sustainable construction materials. The workshop included five technical sessions with presentations by industry experts and interactive discussions with the delegates.
The Minister of Agriculture from Maharashtra, Shri Abdul Sattar, shared his insights on the scope and potential of the bamboo sector and visited the exhibition to interact with artisans and entrepreneurs. The workshop was closed with remarks from Shri Pasha Patel, a progressive bamboo farmer, and summed up by Dr. Prabhat Kumar.
The National Workshop of Bamboo Sector Development aimed to create awareness and promote the development of the bamboo sector in India. The launch of the bamboo information website and the book on eco-friendly bamboo products will provide valuable information to stakeholders in the sector. The workshop also provided an opportunity for industry experts, government officials, and entrepreneurs to interact and collaborate towards the growth of the sector.
