The Madhya Pradesh government is promoting bamboo cultivation. Experts are calling it 'green gold' for the farmers as bamboo farming is one of the most profitable crops. The specialty of the bamboo crop is that it does not get spoiled in any season and does not require much maintenance
In the workshop, Principal Secretary of Madhya Pradesh said “There is a fear of damage to other crops due to pests & weather conditions, but bamboo crop does not get spoiled in any season. Bamboo farming can be done at less expenditure & yield more profits than traditional crops”.
He also highlighted that bamboo crop is better in the sense that after planting it once, the farmers can get continuous benefits for a long period. He said that instead of fencing with cement poles in the fields and other places, bamboo can be used as fencing. Farmer can plant 625 saplings in one hectare, and they can buy bamboo plants from government nurseries.
CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan has already said that agriculture will be made profitable by implementing Bamboo Mission in the field of agriculture. Its cultivation will also play an important role in crop diversification. He has asked the officials to motivate the farmers for bamboo cultivation.
Dr. UK Subuddhi, CEO of Madhya Pradesh Bamboo Mission, told that in the State Bamboo Mission scheme, bamboo is planted by farmers on private land. The total expenditure of bamboo cultivation is around Rs 240 per plant and Farmers are being given a subsidy of Rs 120 per plant. Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Forest Force Chief RK Gupta and Collector including other officers and farmers were also present on this occasion.
Agriculture expert Binod Anand says bamboo cultivation can help increase the income of farmers. There are 136 species of bamboo, but 10-12 are quite prevalent. Farmer brothers can choose the species according to their convenience.
Source: TV 9
