Bamboo plantation for clean Ganga, uplift of poor farmers

  • | Wednesday | 17th February, 2021

As many as 1,038 village panchayats across 27 districts of UP have been earmarked for promotion of bamboo plantation on the banks of river Ganga under Namami Gange flagship scheme, National Baans (bamboo) Mission Yojana.According to officials, the bamboo plantation is aimed at augmenting income of marginal farmers. Each district has been allocated Rs 91 lakh and a target of bamboo plantation has been set by the forest department.

As many as 1,038 village panchayats across 27 districts of UP have been earmarked for promotion of bamboo plantation on the banks of river Ganga under Namami Gange flagship scheme, National Baans (bamboo) Mission Yojana.

According to officials, the bamboo plantation is aimed at augmenting income of marginal farmers. Each district has been allocated Rs 91 lakh and a target of bamboo plantation has been set by the forest department.

The forest department in each district will provide bamboo saplings for sowing to village panchayats.
Giving details, Bijnor divisional forest officer M Semmaran said, “The government is pushing for organic farming in the Ganga basin to make it pollution-free. Farmers are being trained on how to practice bamboo farming.”

The bamboo is a versatile group of plants which is capable of providing ecological, economic and livelihood security to the people. India is the second largest country after China in growing bamboo.
The plantation along Ganga will help prevent erosion during monsoon. It can also be grown in barren land and low-lying areas.

Known as green gold, this hardy variety of the grass family can withstand temperature variations and is resistant to disease, requiring no pesticides or herbicides for its upkeep. When cut, it grows back again, making the plant reusable.
It has numerous uses –its shoots are edible and it is also used for medicinal purposes. From furniture-making to construction, its applications are numerous. Now, its hemp is being used for making textile, said Semmaran. It has the potential of rejuvenating the rural economy and doubling of farmers’ income besides providing an employment source, he added.

The DFO said farmers are being sensitized about the importance of bamboo farming in the Ganga basin. They will be provided a subsidy of Rs 50 per sapling. The total cost of one acre of bamboo plantation is Rs 12,000 to 15,000. It will take three to four years to get the first harvest. In its first year of harvesting, the returns will be five times the total cost of planting. After three years, the yield will increase income six to seven times for the next 10 to 15 years, added Semmaran.


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