Bamboo Cultivation Boosts Sustainable Environment, Rural Development, and Green Maharashtra – Minister Bharat Gogawale

Conference “Bamboo for People, Planet and Prosperity” inaugurated on the occasion of World Bamboo Day

Mumbai, Sept 2025 : “If we want to maintain environmental balance and prevent the degradation of the Earth, then along with tree plantation, bamboo cultivation is the key alternative,” said Minister for Employment Guarantee Bharat Gogawale. He added that bamboo cultivation will not only ensure sustainable environmental development but also prove profitable for farmers and generate employment in rural areas. The State Government is committed to cultivating bamboo on 21 lakh hectares to realize the vision of a Green Maharashtra.

On the occasion of World Bamboo Day, the conference “Bamboo for People, Planet and Prosperity” was inaugurated at Yashwantrao Chavan Centre, organized jointly by Mitra and Phoenix Foundation, Lodhga, Latur. The event was inaugurated by Employment Guarantee and Horticulture Minister Bharat Gogawale. Minister of State for Agriculture Adv. Ashish Jaiswal, Minister of State for Cooperation Dr. Pankaj Bhoyar, former Gujarat Minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasama, Chairman of the State Agriculture Price Commission and Executive Chairman of the Chief Minister’s Environmental Sustainable Development Task Force Pasha Patel, CEO of Mitra Praveen Pardeshi, Director of Malvika Herbopharma Dinesh Sharma, Godrej Industries Group President and Head of Corporate Affairs Rakesh Swami, Managing Director of Royal Castor Products Ltd. Haresh Vyas, and Takeshi Oyeda, representative of the Asian Development Bank, along with eminent experts in the bamboo and environment industry, and farmers were present.

Minister Gogawale said bamboo is a cash crop and is among the fastest-growing plants. With care for 3–4 years, it starts yielding from the 4th or 5th year. This will ensure farmers’ prosperity, strengthen rural development, and accelerate green growth. Bamboo has extensive demand in construction, furniture, textiles, energy, and packaging industries. To create rural employment and utilize fallow land, awareness programs and business-oriented training on bamboo cultivation are necessary. He also highlighted that the government provides subsidies of up to ₹7 lakh per hectare for bamboo cultivation, which farmers are not required to repay. Cautioning about the decline in rural population due to urbanization, he stressed that bamboo as a crop alternative will generate rural employment and strengthen the rural economy.

Maharashtra is already a leader in horticulture, and efforts will be made to establish the state at the forefront in bamboo cultivation, production, and industry. For this, greater awareness and publicity about bamboo’s importance are needed, and the government will provide full cooperation, the Minister assured.

Minister of State for Agriculture Adv. Ashish Jaiswal said, “Global warming has increased carbon emissions and environmental degradation, the consequences of which the next generation will suffer. Our ancestors gave us the legacy of water, land, and forests, which we must preserve. In such circumstances, bamboo cultivation can save us. People living around forest areas should be encouraged towards bamboo cultivation, and special programs should focus on this. The government is considering how to provide financial support to farmers in the first three years. To combat climate change and environmental damage, the government has given increased support to bamboo cultivation. Bamboo farming will bring financial stability to farmers’ lives,” he added.

Praveen Pardeshi, CEO of Mitra, said that special efforts are being made by the State Government to double bamboo productivity. He also mentioned that NITI Aayog has made a provision of ₹4,000 crore for the bamboo industry.

In his introductory remarks, Pasha Patel, Executive Chairman of the Chief Minister’s Environmental Sustainable Development Task Force, said, “This conference has brought together industrialists, farmers, researchers, and entrepreneurs. Bamboo is the green resource of the 21st century, useful in over 150 sectors including construction, furniture, energy, and textiles. It grows fast, absorbs more carbon, and creates employment opportunities. Bamboo is a crop that ensures steady income for farmers. Today’s conference will feature expert discussions on bamboo policies, cultivation, and business opportunities.”

Eminent dignitaries also shared their views at the conference.