Strategic partnership to promote sustainable bamboo agroforestry in India
IndiaCSR News Network
MUMBAI: YES BANK, India’s fifth largest private sector bank is proud to partner Govt of India and Madhya Pradesh State Bamboo Mission for the three-day Global Bamboo Summit during Apr 8-10 in Indore. Bamboo is fast emerging from a poor man’s timber to ‘Green Gold’ and now is the right opportunity for policy makers, farmers, entrepreneurs, industries and financial institutions to work together and create a sustainable value chain for Bamboo industry in India.
Shivraj Singh Chauhan, Chief Minister, Govt of Madhya Pradesh said, “Madhya Pradesh is one of the fastest growing states in India. We make money from agriculture and we want to increase farmer incomes with bamboo. We want to grow bamboo on the boundaries of small farms, and not just on forest edges. We will also put best practices in the sector for efficient use of bamboo.”
Radha Mohan Singh, Minister, Agriculture & Farmer Welfare, Govt. of India said, “Bamboo is environment friendly and absorbs carbon from the atmosphere. States that encourage bamboo plantation will be recognized and rewarded. There is tremendous demand for bamboo in national and international markets and therefore the Government is taking necessary actions to fill demand and supply gaps in the sector.”
Nitin Gadkari, Minister, Road Transport & Highways and Shipping, Govt. of India said, “Waste-to-Wealth and Knowledge-to-Wealth should be the direction in which our country should progress for sustainable development. Bamboo with its multifaceted features has the potential to support tribal, agriculture and manufacturing sector and contribute towards the growth narrative of our country.”
Chief Guest, Smt. Sumitra Mahajan, Speaker of Lok Sabha, Govt. of India said, “Bamboo has an indelible impression since my childhood days. One of the most unique features of Bamboo is that it transcends to music through flute, which is a bamboo product.”
Rana Kapoor, MD & CEO, YES BANK and Chairman, YES Institute said, “Bamboo is a natural treasure that sustains life, diversifies livelihoods, maintains ecological balance and has wide ranging industrial implications. Bamboo agroforestry can significantly synergize economic and environmental benefits of natural capital, while supporting rural communities during output losses on account of soil degradation and fluctuating climatic conditions, by diversifying farm income, generating employment and conserving valuable natural resources. As a fast growing multi-utility renewable natural resource, management of natural bamboo forests aided by an integrated policy framework to promote bamboo will drive significant economic, environmental and ecological benefits.”
