The National Bamboo Mission (NBM), launched in 2006-07 and restructured in 2018, aims to promote bamboo cultivation and industry in India. While it has achieved notable successes, the mission has also faced criticisms and allegations of mismanagement.
Success Stories: Positive Impacts of NBM
Empowering Farmers and Entrepreneurs
NBM has provided subsidies and technical support to farmers and entrepreneurs, leading to increased incomes and business opportunities. For instance:(Mahatma gandhi gramodaya univesrity blog)
- Ramswaroop Meena, a farmer from Kota, Rajasthan, transitioned to bamboo farming in 2019 with a 50% subsidy and technical assistance. In his first year, he earned ₹3 lakh from 1.5 acres and expanded into bamboo furniture production. (Mahatma gandhi gramodaya univesrity blog)
- Apoorva Deshmukh, a mechanical engineer from Nagpur, Maharashtra, established a bamboo processing unit with a ₹10 lakh subsidy. His products, including bamboo toothbrushes and handicrafts, have found markets in India and Europe. (Mahatma gandhi gramodaya univesrity blog)
- More Success stores available on NBM website – https://nbm.da.gov.in/Success-Stories
Community Development
In Pachgaon, Maharashtra, the Gond tribal community secured rights over 1,006 hectares of bamboo forest. They established a successful bamboo business, generating revenue, improving livelihoods, and funding local infrastructure and education. (The Guardian)
Challenges and Allegations
Mismanagement and Corruption
Despite successes, NBM has faced allegations of mismanagement:
- In Tripura, a CBI investigation revealed that an NGO, with assistance from a Tripura Bamboo Mission official, created fake documents to embezzle funds meant for bamboo artisan training programs. (The Assam Tribune Epaper)
- In Assam, despite significant funding, the mission’s outcomes were poor, leading to a government probe. (The Sentinel)
Implementation Issues
Reports indicate that NBM has struggled to meet the needs of artisans and entrepreneurs, and to develop high-quality bamboo plantations. (Indiaspend)
In Nagpur, a committee criticized private firms for supplying tissue culture bamboo plants that failed prematurely, affecting farmers’ investments. (The Times of India)
Growmore Biotech
Growmore Biotech, based in Hosur, Tamil Nadu, supplied tissue culture saplings of Bambusa balcooa (Beema bamboo) to farmers. However, a National Bamboo Mission (NBM) committee report revealed that many of these saplings flowered prematurely and died, leading to significant losses for farmers. Approximately 40% of the affected farmers had purchased plantlets from Growmore Biotech. (The Times of India, odishabamboo.org)
Farmers reported that when they approached Growmore Biotech for assistance, they were advised to increase irrigation and apply fertilizers. Despite following these recommendations, the bamboo did not recover. The NBM committee recommended that private tissue culture firms provide monetary compensation or certified planting material to affected farmers. (The Times of India, The Times of India)
A report by the National Bamboo Mission (NBM) committee has highlighted significant issues with tissue culture bamboo plants supplied by private firms, including Growmore Biotech (Hosur, Tamil Nadu), Kala Biotech Pvt Ltd (Pune), and IshVed Biotech Ltd (Pune). The committee found that many of these Bambusa balcooa (Beema bamboo) saplings flowered prematurely and died, leading to substantial losses for farmers. Specifically, approximately 40% of the affected farmers had purchased plantlets from Growmore Biotech, while 20% each had sourced from Kala Biotech and IshVed Biotech. The report suggested that practices adopted in tissue culture laboratories might have contributed to this issue and advised against following the companies’ recommendations to revive the plantations, as such efforts were deemed futile and likely to increase farmers’ losses.
Artisan Agrotech
Artisan Agrotech Private Limited, based in Madhya Pradesh, entered into agreements with over 400 farmers in Maharashtra between 2016 and 2017, promising to buy back the Katanga (Bambusa bambos) bamboo they cultivated. However, by 2024, the company had failed to honor these agreements, leading to significant distress among farmers. Some farmers resorted to burning their bamboo crops to clear fields for other crops. (The Times of India)
The company claimed it would honor all buyback agreements, but delays and lack of communication exacerbated farmers’ losses. This incident highlights the risks associated with private firms’ involvement in agricultural missions without adequate oversight.(The Times of India)
Conclusion
The National Bamboo Mission has facilitated growth in India’s bamboo sector, benefiting numerous farmers and entrepreneurs. However, instances of mismanagement and corruption have hindered its full potential. While not a scam in its entirety, the mission’s challenges underscore the need for improved oversight and implementation to ensure its objectives are met effectively.
