‘Classify bamboo as an agriculture crop’

NAGPUR: In a bid to boost its output, former BJP MLA from Umred Sudhir Parwe wants bamboo to be declared an agriculture crop to treat it at par with other traditional crops like wheat, paddy, soyabean, gram, sugarcane etc
In 2017, the Centre removed bamboo, taxonomically a ‘grass’, from the category of ‘tree’ for regulatory purposes. The Centre had through an amendment to the Indian Forest Act (IFA), 1927, exempted bamboo grown in non-forest areas from the definition of tree, thereby dispensing with the requirement of felling/transit permit for its economic use.
Bamboo was earlier legally defined as a ‘tree’ under the IFA.So, the felling and transit of bamboo grown on forest as well non-forest land attracted provisions (permit and penalty) under the law before the amendment.
In April 2017, the Maharashtra government also freed bamboo from the transit pass (TP) regime but farmers are reluctant to grow it.
“Presently, as bamboo is not an agriculture crop, farmers are reluctant to grow it because it doesn’t reflect in the 7/12 extract like the other crops and also doesn’t get any financial help from banks,” said Parwe.
Parwe drew attention of Maharashtra agriculture minister Dadaji Bhuse and also sought intervention of leader of opposition Devendra Fadnavis and road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari, who has always been demanding to free bamboo from the licence regime.
Minister Bhuse was not available for comments. The former MLA said farmers are keen to grow bamboo as it is not affected by drought or rain like other crops and bamboo has enough potential as a market for handicraft, building material, furniture and curtains, artefacts among many things. Moreover, bamboo is used by paper mills and it can also be used as an energy source by converting it into solid, liquid and gaseous fuels.
Managing director of Maharashtra Bamboo Development Board (MBDB) TSK Reddy supported Parwe’s demand. “Declaring bamboo as an agriculture crop is a good move. It will entitle all benefits like the minimum support price (MSP) which conventional crops get. It will also not require a transit pass. Bamboo once grown can give sustained income till 40-50 years,” said Reddy.
On promoting bamboo plantation, Reddy said, “The MBDB has encouraged plantation of bamboo on 3,315 hectare of private land in Maharashtra. Out of this, 1,400 hectares alone is in Marathwada.”
Sunil Joshi, chairman, Bamboo Society of India (BSI), Maharashtra Chapter, too, stressed the need for declaring bamboo as an agriculture crop. “Bamboo needs to be put under the department of agriculture and industry only then its importance will multiply. Farmers are not growing bamboo due to fear of not getting a market for their produce,” Joshi said.
However, progressive farmer Ramesh Dumbhre from Umred was very optimistic. “I’ve planted six species of over 7,600 bamboo saplings in 18 acre farm land in the last 2.5 years. I plan to market bamboo shoots as food products. Each sapling costs Rs30, though this year I received 1,400 saplings from MBDB free of cost under a scheme. Bamboo farming is anytime better than other crops as it is a one-time investment,” said Dumbhre.