Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary, Dr. Arun Kumar Mehta on Thursday chaired a meeting of UT Level Executive Committee (UTLEC) for Bamboo Mission and approved its action plan amounting to Rs. 820 lakh for the year 2021-22.
Administrative Secretaries of departments of Finance, Agriculture Production & Farmers Welfare, Forest, Ecology & Environment, besides Principal Chief Conservator of Forest along with concerned Heads of Departments participated in the meeting.
The annual plan lays emphasis on various components under the National Bamboo Mission namely- propagation and cultivation of bamboo; product development and processing; development of tools, equipment, and machinery; skill development and awareness; and research and development in bamboo cultivation.
In the current financial year, the Department has proposed establishing 25 bamboo nurseries both in private and public sectors with a capacity of 4.09 lakh saplings and covering 1400 hectare area under high-density bamboo plantation. The Department will also establish two tissue culture labs, bamboo shoot processing units, besides organizing various skill development workshops and awareness generation camps. This is expected to provide significant livelihood opportunities for local population besides enhancing income.
The Chief Secretary directed the Agriculture Department to lay special emphasis on productivity enhancement and good agronomic practices in consultation with SKUAST.
The Department was further asked to share the Aadhar-seeded information of farmers with the Forest Department and ensure convergence of various welfare assistance and support. “This will lead to pooling of resources and expertise of both departments, and assist in coordinated capacity building of officials, field functionaries, farmers, and entrepreneurs in the bamboo sector”, Dr. Mehta added.
It was informed that under the Mission, 2000 farmers mainly from rain-deficit areas will be associated with scientific cultivation of bamboo and linked with skill development. The stakeholders will also be provided assistance for product designing and branding towards evolving a bamboo-based model of sustainable economic development.