In Dewas district, the farmers were encouraged for plantation of Katang bamboo variety has been done in an area of more than 1000 acres in “One District One Product”.
46 women self-help groups have been provided employment by planting bamboo in forest areas under MGNREGA.
A scheme has also been introduced for motivating farmers for bamboo planting and grant for self-help groups, so that more and more farmers can join it in less cost and increase their income.
From the purchase of a bamboo sapling to planting bamboo and till it grows up, the cost of Rs.240 including protection has been estimated by the Madhya Pradesh State Bamboo Mission.
On planting bamboo by the farmer on his private land, 50 percent of the total cost i.e. Rs 120 per plant will be given as subsidy to the farmers. In Dewas district, 448 farmers of Development Block Dewas, Sonkachh, Tonkkhurd, Bagli, Kannaud and Khategaon have planted 216281 bamboos on 541 hectares of land.
Bamboo plantation has been done under MNREGA scheme with the help of self-help groups in the forest area.
Under the scheme, 203125 bamboos have been planted on 325 hectares of land at 19 places.
The entire expenditure on plantation and its protection will be borne under MNREGA scheme.
After five years, the income from bamboo harvesting will be shared in the ratio of 20:80 between the village forest committee of that area and the self-help group concerned. Also, a contract has been signed between the Self Help Group and Artisan Agrotech Ltd., a bamboo factory based in Dewas, to sell bamboo.
238000 bamboos have been planted on 595 hectares of land at 22 places in the Kempa scheme in all the areas of the forest division area in the district.
The MoU between farmers and self-help groups from Artisan Agrotech Bamboo Factory in Dewas. Market is also available for buying and selling bamboos.
In the year 2023-24, preparations have been started after achieving the target of planting more and more bamboos from the government in various schemes in the entire district.
Bamboo plantation is one of the ambitious schemes of the state government.
Once the bamboo plants are planted, the farmer gets relief from the cost of fertilizing, irrigation, plowing and watering every year.
For 5 years from planting, the farmer can do his normal farming by intercropping method and the farmer will not have any loss of yield till the bamboo is harvested.
Farmers will get more income due to continuous increase in demand for bamboo in furniture, decorative items, construction work, agriculture sector, paper industry etc.
Photo respiration is rapid in bamboo. The exhaled carbon dioxide is reused. Bamboo has the ability to absorb 5 times more carbon dioxide, the same one hectare of bamboo forest absorbs one thousand tons in a year.
This reduces the effect of global warming. Bamboo roots hold the soil for several decades after harvesting and prevent soil erosion.
Ten times more products can be made from bamboo than other trees, thereby reducing dependence on other trees.
