India has the highest area under bamboo and is the second richest country, after China, in terms of bamboo diversity with around 136 species. Despite this, India is a net importer of bamboo.

From a poor man's timber to Green Gold, bamboo is emerging as a sustainable choice for a better tomorrow. We all are Vocal for Local today and bamboo as a socio-economic indicator promoting sustainable consumption and production, indigenous treasure and is environment-friendly. Can the green gold script a new chapter towards Atma-Nirbharta?

Bamboo is a powerful tool to attain climate action goals and other SDG's and to help restore degraded and abandoned agricultural land. It is a step towards protection and conservation of biodiversity, enhancement of resources and improvement of productivity, promotion of traditional and modern bamboo based industries, enhancing employment, opportunity and livelihood security for the local people and development of effective marketing for bamboo and cane-based products

It is highlighted that about 2.5 billion people in the world depend economically on bamboo and international trade in bamboo is estimated at about USD 4.5 million per year. India is the 2nd largest producer of bamboo in the world but ironically, the country is 2nd largest importer of bamboo and its products. Does it mean that there are greater opportunities towards value chain ecosystem?

The North Eastern Council (NEC) has allocated Rs 1300 lakh for development of bamboo in Mizoram during the financial year 2020-2021. It is considered an important development resource, a source of earning livelihood for communities and an accelerator of Green economy. In India, by freeing bamboo from considering it as a tree under Forest Rights Act, a life has been renewed to boost its cultivation and generate livelihood options for the communities.

Bamboo: key pillar of agro economy

Bamboo is a versatile group of plants which is capable of providing ecological, economic and livelihood security to the people. It promotes 'FOOD, FEED, FIBRE and FURNITURE', it is used as for promoting construction material, textile, food and considered good source of nutrition, herbal medicine etc. This is especially important from the potential of bamboo based livelihoods and employment for rejuvenating the rural economy and doubling of farmers' income. Encouraging farmers to adopt bamboo based agro-forestry systems has contributed to double their income, enhance their livelihood and given a boost to the economy.

Savior for MSMEs during COVID-19

Value-added bamboo products are becoming popular due to their characteristics of durability and strength, which resemble the qualities of tropical wood while providing an equally sustainable alternative. Moreover, European Union's project “Promote bamboo MSME cluster for sustainable development” in India is designed with SDG mandate of 'Sustainable consumption & production' to be implemented in 9 potential states of India. Ministry of MSME is implementing scheme of fund for regeneration of traditional industries (SFURTI) for making traditional industries productive and competitive by organizing the traditional industries and artisans into clusters. The scheme envisages providing need-based assistance for replacement of production equipment, setting up of common facility centers' (CFC), product development, quality improvement, improved marketing, training and capacity building etc. Government has recently announced that three Bamboo Clusters will be developed in the Jammu region in the vicinity of Katra, Jammu and Samba towns for making of Bamboo baskets, Agarbatti and Bamboo Charcoal which will provide direct employment opportunities to about 25,000 people. Apart from this a Mega Bamboo Industrial Park near Jammu and Bamboo Technology Training Centre is expected to come up in the region.

Describing bamboo as a silver lining in the dark clouds of pandemic, Dr Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State for Development of North Eastern Region rightly highlight that 'bamboo shall help in shaping the economy of North East and entire country in Post COVID era'. In India, bamboo has potential to benefit more than 4 million small farmers and 1.5 million micro entrepreneurs in the next five years. With focus on skill development, value-added skills and facilitation of providing direct market linkages by establishment of Bamboo Market, Rural 'haats' to the entrepreneurs and artisans, bamboo industry provides an opportunity for MSMEs. In July 2020, KVIC launched Sandalwood and Bamboo plantation, a new initiative to spur monetization of its assets. Under the stewardship and proactive support from government, establishment of bamboo hubs/clusters can be a gateway to unlock job opportunities and livelihood prospects. Start-up options can give an attractive incentive for youth, women to become local entrepreneurs.

Shaping climate resilience

Bamboo is not just food for fauna ecosystem, but a critical tool for restoration. An important carbon sink, it is an important mitigation measure to absorb carbon emissions and its impact can be felt within just a decade. Grown on extremely degraded lands, bamboo has the potential to reduce ambient temperatures while improving drainage, improves soil structure and reducing flooding.  Bamboo presents a unique solution to replace plastics, paper and polyester that allows us to continue to grow, develop and yes, consume, in a responsible way. Given that roughly 80 per cent of plastic end up in the sea posing a risk to our marine ecosystem with huge amounts of wastes, Bamboo shows us an alternative. In a bid to Battle Plastic Pollution, state like Sikkim has introduced Bamboo Bottles for Tourists. In this regard, Bharathi Namby, a scientist, says it takes just five bamboo plants a year to make an Indian carbon-neutral, because each of them absorbs about 400 kg of CO2 a year and bamboo is bound to be a savior for India's climate actions.

North Eastern Region: Hub of 'New India'

Years back, bamboo was traditionally recognized an aesthetic-traditional source but today, the mandate of government and agencies worldwide has rapidly turned their attention towards eco-friendly option and gained salience as a green choice.

Warm temperate, tropical climates offer optimum conditions for most bamboo species. Bamboo farming, mostly grown in North East due to its climatic conditions is already changing the rural economy and Prime Minister Modi has rightly called bamboo as an indigenous asset of this region. National BAMBOO Mission which is working on various endeavors like enhancing its yield, developing technologies to blend traditional with scientific knowledge, promoting bio-energy, handicrafts and so on. Recently, the DONER ministry has called to set up Bamboo Skill Centres to propel the industry with new Start-ups and also enhance livelihood opportunities. On the occasion of 'World Bamboo Day' many states had announced policies and initiatives to give a life to bamboo. For example, Mizoram government has allocated Rs 131 lakh for bamboo development in the state and Assam already implements a Bamboo and Cane Policy aims at sustainable development and utilization of bamboo and cane resources through scientific management and stakeholders' participation. The region has potential to tap the richness of bamboo towards becoming a Hub of India.

Green way to Atma-Nirbhar Bharat!

As appropriate to each region, keeping in view their specific agro-climatic and socio-economic conditions, Bamboo-based enterprise should be promoted by the every state, according to climate sustainability. Friends, by pushing the agenda towards 'GO GREEN' and raising global awareness on the use of bamboo and their positive impact, we can create long-lasting environmental change and unleash the opportunity of Atma Nirbharta. Let's CALL the BAMBOO and move towards BUILDING FORWARD and BETTER.

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About Dr. Arvind Kumar

Dr. Arvind Kumar, a renowned environmentalist is President and Founder of India Water Foundation (Special Consultative Status with UN-ECOSOC, Observer Status Governing Body of UNEA, Observer Status with UNFCCC, Observer Status with UNCCD, member of World Water Council (WWC) and CTCN membership for Southern Asia), a non-profit organization and think tank established for generating a heightened public awareness at national level in India and sub-regional level in Asia, regarding water and its impact on human health, economic growth and environmental sustainability.

He is also Governor on Board of Governors of the World Water Council and specializes in ecosystem-based adaptation, water-energy-food nexus, with specific emphasis on inter-linkages between water, environment and SDGs. He is the lead author of publication with SAC Dhaka titled “SAARC Outlook on Water-Energy-Food Nexus in SAARC Region” published in December 2015 and has published over 400 plus research articles, Ph.D. Defense Studies. He has authored the book 'Eco-System Based Adaptation' published by Elsevier.

He is member of the 'National Wetlands Committee, MoEF&CC, GOI, member Technical Advisory Committee for India's Third National Communication and Biennial Update Reports to UNFCCC, member of the Meghalaya State Water Resources Council and Meghalaya council for Climate Change and Sustainable Development, Member of the General Body of CAPART, Member Working Group on Water Resources Development, Management and Efficient utilization to seek inputs for development agenda for New India @75, NITI Aayog, GOI. In Sikkim under his leadership IWF is cooperating with government in the field of water resources, Environment, Sustainable Development, recently launched “Sikkim Comprehensive Water Resources Plan” at Gangtok. As a member of World Water Council's Taskforce on Transversality, he presents key strategies in water related areas for the perusal of water security, mainstream water related agendas and share practices in various policy initiatives/ instruments of WWC.

He is conferred with the Achievers Award for his exemplary contribution and commitment for protecting environment by India Eye IHRO in collaboration with UNIC for India & Bhutan on the occasion of World Environment Day 2017 in New Delhi. Under his dynamic leadership, India Water Foundation has, consecutively for two years 2017-18 and 2018-19, won the Water Digest Water Award under the Category “BEST WATER NGO - WATER EDUCATION and Best NGO Water and Sanitation.