Bamboo cultivation workshop held at Ajara; Project to be implemented soon
The idea is to do so by enhancing traditional bamboo productivity and cultivation through scientific methods.
A workshop was conducted with over 300 farmers from Ajara and Chandgad tehsil on Sunday to educate them on the project.
The Institute for Social and Economic Change (Isec) Bengaluru will implement the project funded by the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR), New Delhi in four Indian states namely Assam, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Karnataka, were selected for the study.
Addressing farmers in the worskshop by Isec and Ajara Bamboo Cluster Foundation, Ajara tehsildar Sameer Mane said: "Central govt has reached the doorsteps of farmers through the bamboo project being implemented in Ajara. Farmers should take advantage and achieve their economic progress."
"To increase traditional bamboo productivity and provide sustainable income to farmers, bamboo cultivation and value addition will be encouraged using scientific methods.
The organisation will work for farmers in Ajara and Chandgad tehsils for the next five years," ICSSR project head and researcher Dr Vilas Jadhav said.
He added: "India is the second largest country in bamboo production after China. It is an environment-friendly and sustainable resource available in India. Bamboo plant is gaining attention as a plant of global interest due to its values and wide range of usage for human beings."
Executive director of Isec and professor Dr Pramod Kumar said the long-term study aims at identifying the determining factors motivating bamboo cultivation on private land. "The goal is to estimate cost and returns on bamboo raised on private land at different stages of growth and to assess biotechnological interventions for improving bamboo cultivation to raise farmers' income," He said.
Researchers will also attempt to mobilise local farmers, promoters and sympathisers, through govt and non-govt organisations and small help groups in the regions under study to adopt bamboo crop. Farmers will be provided technical support in collaboration with Agricultural Science Institutions/Universities, Agro Economic Research Centres, etc., said Kumar.Sub-divisional agriculture officer Kiran Patil was also present at the workshop.
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