Harnessing Nature’s Potential – Empowering Livelihoods, Building Sustainability

The Assam Bamboo and Cane Policy 2019 is a transformative initiative introduced by the Government of Assam to unlock the economic, ecological, and social potential of bamboo and cane resources in the state. Assam, with its rich biodiversity and abundant bamboo and cane reserves, aims to position itself as a national leader in sustainable bamboo-based industry and innovation.

Vision

To transform Assam into a hub of bamboo and cane-based sustainable development by leveraging indigenous resources, empowering local communities, enhancing value addition, and creating globally competitive enterprises.


Key Objectives

• Conservation and Biodiversity Protection: Protecting and conserving biodiversity associated with bamboo and cane forests and areas. 
• Resource Enhancement: Promoting bamboo and cane plantation in various areas, including wastelands, and using sustainable harvesting practices. 
• Productivity Improvement: Using improved planting stock and scientific management practices to enhance productivity. 
• Industrial Promotion: Supporting bamboo-based industries at various scales, from cottage to large-scale, for income generation. 
• Traditional Sector Revival: Reviving and promoting traditional handicrafts and value-added items. 
• Livelihood Security: Enhancing employment opportunities and livelihood security for bamboo and cane dependents through assured raw material supply and institutional development. 
• Environmental Protection: Utilizing bamboo and cane for environmental protection, greening degraded lands, and other diverse activities like watershed protection. 
• Sustainable Utilization: Ensuring the sustainable utilization of bamboo resources through scientific management and stakeholder participation. 
• Increased Farmer Remuneration: Focusing on improving the economic benefits for farmers involved in bamboo and cane cultivation. 
• Value Chain Enhancement: Integrating bamboo into public construction, enhancing the value chain, and creating employment opportunities. 
  
  

Strategic Focus Areas

1. Sustainable Resource Development

• Promote high-yielding bamboo species and scientific agro-techniques.
• Ensure regeneration and ecological conservation.
• Facilitate bamboo cultivation on private and community lands.

2. Skill & Entrepreneurship Promotion

• Conduct structured training programs in design, fabrication, processing, and enterprise management.
• Support women, youth, and traditional artisans in capacity building and business incubation.

3. Industrial Growth & Value Addition

• Support bamboo-based clusters, common facility centers, and industrial parks.
• Encourage innovative products such as engineered bamboo, bio-energy products, furniture, and lifestyle goods.
• Provide incentives for technology upgradation and quality certification.

4. Market Development & Trade Facilitation

• Establish a state-level Bamboo and Cane Marketing Board.
• Develop digital platforms for market access and real-time data dissemination.
• Facilitate branding and participation in trade fairs and expos.

5. Institutional Support & Convergence

• Establish the Assam Bamboo and Cane Development Agency (ABCDA) for policy implementation.
• Leverage convergence of schemes under industries, forest, rural development, and environment departments.
• Promote public-private partnerships (PPPs) and attract investment.
  
  

Policy Components & Incentives

A. Cultivation & Nursery Support

1. Nurseries (Hi-tech, Big, Small):
   • 100 % capex subsidy for government nurseries; 50 % credit-linked subsidy for private
   • Hi-tech units must produce ≥50,000 saplings/ha/year, with composting, drip irrigation, greenhouses, and tissue-culture labs
   
   
2. Plantation Grants:
   • ₹1 lakh/ha over 3 years for high-density block plantations (50 % state + 50 % private cost share up to 2 ha)
   • Free sapling distribution (≤200 saplings/family) for plots <0.5 ha

B. Processing & Infrastructure

1. Common Facility Centres (CFCs):
   • 33 % subsidy (credit-linked) for private-sector go-downs and depots; 100 % capex for government
   
   
2. Value-Addition Units:
   • Up to 60 % subsidy for micro/medium units (handicrafts, furniture, incense)
   • Up to 40 % credit-linked subsidy for engineered bamboo boards, mats, pellets, bio-energy plants

C. Enterprise & Technology Adoption

1. Tool & Machinery Grants:
   • 100 % grant for manual/power tools in furniture, incense-stick, mat-making
   
   
2. Capital Investment Subsidy:
   • 50 % reimbursement (capped at ₹5 crore) on eligible plant & machinery + internal electrification.
   
   

D. Start-Up & Skill Development

1. Bamboo Start-Ups:
   • One-time grant up to ₹5 lakh for MASI-registered innovators
   
   
2. Training & Capacity Building:
   • 100 % sponsorship for courses at ITIs/Skill Centres, including travel & daily allowances
   • Workshops, demonstrations, exposure visits under NSQF guidelines

Governance & Implementation

• State Level Executive Committee (SLEC):
  Led by the Industries & Commerce Secretary; reviews action plans, monitors targets.
• District Level Agencies (DLA) & General Managers, DICC:
  First-line scrutiny, field verification, and beneficiary identification.
• Convergence:
  Leverage National Bamboo Mission, NEIDS, AIDC, NEDFI, KVIC, DRDA, Forest & Rural Development Departments.
• Digital MIS & Monitoring:
  Geo-tagged plantations, portal-based application tracking, periodic resource inventory and impact assessments.

Key Outcomes to Date (Nov 2019–May 2025)

• Plantation: > 2,500 ha of new bamboo block plantations; 80 %+ first-year survival
• Enterprises: 600 MSMEs supported; 15 CFCs and incubators operational
• Employment: 12,000+ direct jobs; 200+ SHGs engaged in artisan clusters
• Innovation: 5 tissue-culture labs certified by RFRI; 8 patent filings for engineered bamboo products
• Market Access: 20+ state-sponsored expos; “Bamboo & Cane Online Portal” beta-launched

Future Directions

• Policy Renewal: Under review for extension beyond 2024 with enhanced climate-resilient targets.
• Research & Development: Partnerships with ICAR, IIT-Guwahati and NID-Jorhat for next-gen bamboo composites.
• Global Linkages: Engage INBAR, explore carbon-credit frameworks, and establish export facilitation cells.