Source: BS
Once called the “poor man’s timber,” bamboo is now “green gold” for Indian farmers, proving more profitable than crops like sugarcane and cotton. Bamboo farming is spreading beyond the Northeast to regions like Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Gujarat. India has 136 native bamboo species. Indian Forest Act, 2017 reclassified bamboo as “grass,” easing restrictions on its cultivation. States like Maharashtra offer financial incentives for bamboo farming.
Benefits:
- Environmental: Bamboo is an efficient carbon converter, producing 35% more oxygen than most plants.
- Economic: High-yielding varieties like “Beema Bamboo” can yield profits of ₹75,000-80,000 per hectare annually.
- Health: Bamboo-based foods are rich in fiber and low in calories, with some therapeutic uses.
- Energy: Bamboo can be used for biofuels, paper production, and as a wood alternative in construction.
