Tripura government launched a five-year plan to expand bamboo production

The Tripura government has started a five-year plan with the goal of significantly expanding the production of bamboo for industrial use. By 2025–2026, the current 461.32 hectares are expected to grow to 45,000 hectares. In addition to making Tripura a major supplier of bamboo products in India, the action is anticipated to improve the state’s bamboo industry. In the production of agarbattis (incense sticks), Tripura supplies around 70% of the nation’s total demand.

According to the 2023 Forest Survey of India report, bamboo occupies approximately 4.2 lakh hectares of land in the state, with 21 different species of bamboo being grown. Only a small portion of this area is suited for cultivation on an industrial scale. The plan’s emphasis on developing a more efficient supply chain to increase bamboo accessibility for companies was emphasized by Subhash Chandra Das, Additional Mission Director of the Tripura Bamboo Mission (TBM).

High-density bamboo plantings backed by government agencies like MGNREGA and the Tribal Welfare Department will be promoted by the Tripura Bamboo Plantation Development Scheme. With the growth of the current and developing bamboo-based industries, the market demand for bamboo is anticipated to double from 2 lakh metric tons to 4 lakh metric tons annually in the next years. To further improve economic chances for the local farmers, the state government also plans to build an Integrated Bamboo Park in the Unakoti district, which will require a consistent supply of high-quality bamboo.