India’s restructured National Bamboo Mission (NBM) is emerging as a key driver of the country’s green economy, with over 60,000 hectares of new plantations, 528 processing units, and 130 market hubs established across 24 states and Union Territories.
According to the Agriculture Ministry, the mission — launched in its current form in 2018 — aims to promote bamboo cultivation, processing, and marketing through financial assistance, farmer producer organisations (FPOs), and skill development programmes. It also supports micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and plays a vital role in reviving the agarbatti sector by reducing dependence on imports.
India has 13.96 million hectares under bamboo and is home to 136 species, making it the second richest in diversity after China. With a domestic bamboo and rattan industry worth ₹28,000 crore, officials say the sector holds huge untapped potential in construction, textiles, food, energy and handicrafts.
The NBM has helped set up 408 nurseries, 104 preservation units and 38 crore RuPay debit cards for direct market access. Policy measures, such as restricting raw batti imports and raising duties on round sticks, have given a boost to domestic agarbatti production.
Success stories from Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Assam highlight bamboo’s impact on rural incomes and women’s empowerment. Farmers like Vijay Patidar of Khargone have switched from traditional crops to bamboo, citing better returns and resilience against pests and climate shocks. In Maharashtra’s Gadchiroli, a women-led agarbatti project has created jobs for over 1,100 people, while Assam’s State Bamboo Development Agency has linked local producers with major buyers like Cycle Pure Agarbatties.
Officials said the mission is now pushing bamboo’s use in government construction projects — including schools, health centres, and railways — to create eco-friendly and disaster-resilient infrastructure.
With a focus on end-to-end value chains, FPO-driven aggregation, and R&D support, the National Bamboo Mission, the ministry said, is being positioned as a pillar of Atmanirbhar Bharat, combining rural employment with climate sustainability.
