13 Feb 2013-14 Feb 2013|Noida | Amity University Campus, Sector-125 Noida
Domestic Bamboo Industry targets Rs 26,000 Crore Market by 2015 avers Dr. Charan Das Mahant, Minister of State for Agriculture & Food Processing Industries while inaugurating Seminar on Bamboo Marketing at Amity
Bamboo is a versatile non-wood forest product and also known as poor man’s timber. It is a material which accompanies one from cradle to grave. Bamboo is the base for a broad range of rural and semi urban cottage industries that provide livelihood for the rural poor. To discuss and deliberate on the potential of bamboo market in India and aborad, Amity school of Natural Resources and Sustainable Development started a two day National Seminar on “Marketing and Export of Bamboo and its Products: System, Challenges and Potential” in association with National Bamboo Mission, Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India, New Delhi and United Nations Industrial Development Organization, New Delhi at Amity Campus, Sector- 125, Noida
The National Seminar was inaugurated today by Dr. Charan Das Mahant, Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Processing Industries, Government of India, Dr. Sanjay Kumar Tyagi, Mission Director – National Bamboo Mission, Maj. Gen K. Jai Singh, Group Vice Chancellor, Amity Universties, Dr. (Mrs.) Balvinder Shukla, Acting Vice Chancellor, Amity University, Prof. B.K.P Sinha, Director – Amity School of Natural Resources & Sustainable Development.
Expressing his views during the occasion, Dr. Charan Das Mahant, Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Processing Industries, Government of India said, “the Bamboo market across the world is of 10 billion dollars out of which 5 billion dollars go to China even though India is the second largest producer of Bamboo in the World after China. It is estimated that by 2015 the world market of Bamboo will increase to 20 billion dollars but India’s bamboo market will be limited to 26, 000 crores only, which calls for an urgent need to step up R&D efforts to increase the cultivation of Bamboo in India. The quality of raw Bamboo has to be improved. New improvised technologies have to be devised and value addition products of Bamboo have to be raised to international standards” avers the Minsiter.
Talking about the importance of Bamboo plant, the Hon’ble Minister outlined its nutritional and medicinal value especially in the cases of Hypertension, Cholesterol control and Diabetes. Talking about the commercial aspect of Bamboo, the Hon’ble Minister stressed that due to the conservation of forests, there has been a major decline in the supply of industrial wood and in order to meet the growing requirement of timber, bamboo has become fast growing resource. Bamboo is an ideal, innovative and environment friendly natural resource which is also being used for clothing, shelter and for oral consumption.
Dr. Sanjay Kumar Tyagi, Mission Director – National Bamboo Mission, Ministry of Agriculture said that it is our firm believe that development of bamboo can be achieved by participation of all stakeholders, scientist and farmers. Dr. Tyagi said that bamboo is upcoming sector in India and most of the bamboo goods are not manufactured on large scale and restricted to domestic use. Bamboo has the potential to replace wood in many applications. 21st century demands for new innovations in bamboo. Bamboo is useful for sustainable development of economy. Successful marketing of bamboo products is needed in present time. We have to explore new markets with in and outside the country.
Dr. (Mrs.) Balvinder Shukla, Acting Vice Chancellor, Amity University said that it is great day that Amity is organizing such an important seminar. People who have lived in villages know the importance of bamboo. Houses, furniture, decorative items, food made from bamboo are part and parcel of rural area and now it is becoming fashionable in urban areas also. China has been the biggest producer of bamboo and maximum application of bamboo also comes from China. Dr. Shukla opined that there has not been a system to promote bamboo products nationally and globally. If we continue to consider bamboo as part of forest than nothing will improve, we have to consider it as part of agriculture. Bamboo can lead to economic development of our nation.
Prof. B.K.P Sinha, Director – Amity School of Natural Resources & Sustainable Development said that from fuel to fodder, from meal to medicine, from arrow to airport, bamboo and its products are used. Bamboo habitat is spread from Kochi to Kashmir, from Gujarat to Assam. Prof. Sinha said that it is matter of concern that despite of such wide spread cultivation of bamboo, our market is way behind to China and Taiwan. More research and development is required for the sustainability of bamboo market and its products in India, opined Prof. Sinha.
Mr. R.K. Mehta, Member, National Society of Bamboo called upon setting up National Bamboo Board to promote as a brand and market bamboo amongst the world outside. He further stressed on the need to promote bamboo cultivation on private land.
Hon’ble Dr. Charan Das Mahant, Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Processing Industries, Government of India also inaugurated Exhibition of Bamboo Products at Amity University Campus.
Inaugural session was followed by three technical sessions. The first technical session on the theme “Development of Bamboo Sector” was chaired by Dr. S.K. Tyagi, Mission Director (NBM), Ministry of Agriculture. In this session Dr. Devendra Pandey, Former Director General, Forest Survey of India, Dehradun presented his views on Bamboo Resource, Its Production and Utilization in India. Mr. A.C. Keshavamurthy, IFS, Chief Conservator of Forests, Bangalore presented Status Paper on Bamboo Economy with respect to Karnataka, Dr. J.P. Singh, IFS, State Mission Director, Odisha presented Status Paper on Bamboo Development Odisha.
Second technical session was based on the theme “Gap between Demand and Supply of bamboo” which was chaired by Mr. R.K. Mehta, Mozo Bamboo and Eco Products Pvt. Ltd. In this session Mr. G.K. Sinha, IFS, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Gujarat presented his views on Strategy to Narrow down the Gap Between Demand and Supply of Bamboo for Long Term and Short Term in Gujarat. Mr. Pravin L. Agrawal and Mr. Ram Narayan Pandey talked on Addressing Demand Supply Mismatch of Bamboo Resources for Sustainable Bamboo Industries in Tripura.
National Seminar was attended by State Bamboo Mission Directors, Bamboo Marketing Agencies, Entrepreneurs from bamboo based Small Scale & Cottage industries, Researchers, Scientists and Students from Amity University