Maharashtra Governor Jishnu Dev Varma has called for developing a bamboo-based economy in the state to promote sustainable development, create rural livelihoods and provide eco-friendly alternatives to plastic.
Addressing the Bamboo Economy and Sustainability Summit in Mumbai today, Mr Varma said Maharashtra could replicate successful bamboo-based models from his home state Tripura. He suggested that districts such as Gadchiroli could be developed as hubs for a strong bamboo value chain, benefiting local farmers and tribal communities.
Mr Varma said bamboo had an important role in addressing climate change as a rapidly renewable resource that could contribute to sustainable production and consumption and support the transition towards a greener and more circular economy.
The governor also highlighted the traditional skills of Indian artisans in bamboo work and said these could be combined with modern design, processing technology, branding and digital marketing to help Maharashtra’s bamboo products reach markets across India and abroad.
