The Maharashtra cabinet on Tuesday approved the Bamboo Industry Policy 2025, which is aimed at providing farmers with a sustainable and eco-friendly source of income, while boosting the state’s domestic and global bamboo production. The policy, cleared at a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, is aligned with the National Bamboo Mission and the Maharashtra Mission 2023 and will be implemented over the next five years. According to the officials, the policy envisages an investment of Rs 50,000 crore in 10 years and is expected to generate direct and indirect employment for over 5 lakh people. It promotes the use of bamboo in farmer producer organisations (FPOs), contract farming, energy, industry, and domestic sectors, supported by infrastructure such as anchor units and Common Facility Centres (CFCs). Additionally, 15 dedicated bamboo clusters will be set up across the state, along with Micro CFCs in remote areas to support artisans. The official said the policy also focuses on research and development, with cooperation from agricultural universities and partnerships with international organisations for training and knowledge dissemination. Bamboo-based industries will receive subsidies on interest, electricity, and stamp duty, and a Rs 300-crore venture capital fund will support startups and MSMEs. Under the policy, nearly Rs 4,271 crore has already been earmarked for a pilot project in collaboration with the Asian Development Bank. This initiative will help FPOs produce quality bamboo saplings, access grants, and receive technical guidance. The policy also seeks to streamline supply chains, introduce production linked incentive (PLI) schemes for bamboo-based industries, and promote bamboo biomass usage (5–7%) in thermal energy projects. Advanced technologies such as GIS, AI, blockchain, drones, and tissue culture labs will be leveraged to develop a modern bamboo value chain. For plantation, bamboo will be cultivated on wastelands through MGNREGA and public plantation programmes, aiming to increase production sustainably. To implement the policy, the government has sanctioned Rs 1,534 crore for short-term execution, Rs 11,797 crore over a 20-year horizon, and an initial Rs 50 crore for the current fiscal year. Globally, the bamboo market is projected to reach $88.43 billion by 2030, while India currently accounts for just 2.3% of global exports. "The domestic bamboo industry is valued at Rs 28,000 crore, with 4% of the country’s forest area under bamboo cultivation and an annual production capacity of 32.03 lakh tonnes. Maharashtra ranks third in India in bamboo plantation, with 1.35 million hectares under cultivation and a 2022 production of 9.47 lakh tonnes. Existing bamboo clusters are located in Amravati, Sindhudurg and Bhandara, while the state has the potential to produce up to 15.72 million tonnes annually, considering suitable and cultivable land," the official said.
