Govt ignoring experts in promoting bamboo sector: Sunil Joshi

Sunil Joshi (67), chairman of Bamboo Society of India (BSI), Maharashtra chapter, and founder of Institute of Village Enterprise Development for Handicrafts Artisans (VEDHA), is promoting bamboo for past 25 years as ecofriendly resource for rural development. Maharashtra Bamboo Development Board (MBDB) is in place for the last three years and last week a Bamboo Promotion Company was also formed by the state government. TOI talked to Joshi whether things have really changed for artisans and farmers despite National Mission on Bamboo Technology & Trade Development Applications launched by then PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 2003 and two bamboo missions thereafter.
Excerpts.

Q. Last 15 years have seen three bamboo missions. What is the outcome?

A. Between NDA in 2003 and NDA again in 2018, government spent crores of rupees on bamboo missions. The 3rd mission has been restructured by Central government with an allocation of over Rs1,200 crore. The earlier two failed as there was no strong technology intervention and market facilitation by the government to promote industry. NBM was handed over to forest departments, which failed to boost bamboo vis-à-vis industry. Besides, these missions were stuck due to transit pass (TP) regime.

Q. Has Maharashtra now removed TP condition?

A. Yes, it is a revolutionary step but farmers are still wary of growing bamboo in farms as they fear their produce won’t get market. Even as 3rd bamboo mission is in progress, we are committing same mistakes by not involving bamboo-industry persons who have carved a niche for bamboo in the society. MBDB doesn’t have a single non-official expert on board to guide it and also farmers or sensitize them about industry and market.

Q. Why do you need experts on MBDB?

A. If experts are ignored the 3rd mission too will collapse. Earlier two missions failed due to bureaucratic imprudence. One has to look at bamboo in an inclusive way and interests of industry, farmers and artisans need to linked. Last month when I visited bamboo shop at Seminary Hills, I found some products were infected by fungus. This was because bamboo was not treated. That is where expert eye is needed. In Chichpalli (Chandrapur) training centre participants are taught furniture making but there is need to look beyond that. Expert visiting faculty can guide on industry and talk about power, bio-CNG, construction, interior design etc.

Q. But state has now formed company to boost the sector...

A. Yes. It is a good decision. But if government or MBDB is approaching VIA to be part of the company, why is BSI not being approached. We are ready to give expertise and offer stake. The board should have a broader view and open mind on the issue and seek society-participation.

Q. What has changed after MBDB’s formation?

A. MBDB was set up three years ago but there is no remarkable change and it is not working with a free hand and lacks broad mindset. There are no experts on the board. MBDB is pursuing China, whose technology is useless for India. China is leader in bamboo trade because it invested a lot in innovation and technology. We should not toe their line as technology it uses is for monopodial bamboo species called Moso. India has sympodial bamboo which is a stronger species.

Q. What are the challenges?

A. Marketing, availability of raw material, trained manpower and lack of technology innovations are biggest challenges. Many units have closed down due to lack of market. We need engineering in bamboo and should expose our human resource to industry, production, quality, product designing and other uses of bamboo. Presently, those being trained are unfortunately confined to making handicraft and furniture.

Q. What needs to be done?

A. This industry has huge employment potential but it cannot survive without government support. Government should provide a level playing field. It should make it mandatory for forest department to procure bamboo furniture in its offices and guesthouses. Other departments should also procure at least 10% bamboo furniture. It should also stop import of incense sticks from Vietnam and China. Over 90% of incense sticks come from abroad. Bamboo is an industrial resource and touches every department. There should be huge sensitization and awareness about how its usage can save environment. It also needs to be part of school curriculum. A National Institute of Bamboo Technology (NIBT) needs to be set up to get competent technical human resource. Bamboo mission is for a fixed period. Instead, a Bamboo Development Authority needs to be set up.