A recent meeting of Indian senior ministers heard that the domestic market for bamboo is estimated to be worth around US$10 billion annually and this is set to grow generating enormous job opportunities along the production chain plantation development to manufacturing. Production of ethanol derived from bamboo for bio-diesel offers other opportunities for investment, ITTO reported.
The Indian government is planning schemes to encourage farmers to establish bamboo plantations along national highways and the Road Transport and Highways Ministry has unveiled a plan for ‘greening’ extending along 100,000 km. of national highways.
K. Bhattacharya, the head of the National Green Highway project said the world market for bamboo products has been estimated at around US$360 billion with China and Vietnam being the main suppliers. He said India’s exports are no higher than those of the Philippines but could be much higher.
The government is resolved to increase production of bamboo to augment wood supplies for housing, furniture, panel products packaging etc. The Indian Plywood Industries Research and Technical Institute (IPIRTI ) has begun work developing technologies for production of bamboo products.
IPIRTI has already invested several years of research in development of cost effective, eco-friendly technologies for manufacture of several bamboo based products such as bamboo mat board, veneer composites, corrugated sheets and flooring, including high density flooring that can be used in containers. At present laminated bamboo lumber is being imported and is finding applications in the transport sector especially Indian Railways.
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