National Symposium on Bamboo Promotes Sustainable Rural Livelihoods and Women's Empowerment

Shri Charanjit Singh highlighted that bamboo cultivation offers a unique opportunity to improve livelihoods while contributing to environmental conservation.

The Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana - National Rural Livelihood Mission (DAY-NRLM), in collaboration with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Industree Foundation, hosted a 'National Symposium on Bamboo' on July 18, 2024. The event focused on promoting sustainable rural livelihoods, women's empowerment, and climate resilience through bamboo farming.

During the symposium, India’s first comprehensive handbook on bamboo cultivation was introduced. This handbook, available in seven regional languages, aims to equip smallholder women farmers with essential knowledge and practices for successful bamboo farming. Additionally, Shri Charanjit Singh, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Rural Development, and Alexandria Huerta, Acting Mission Director of USAID, launched the UGAO app. This digital tool provides real-time data support for women smallholder farmers and helps build a traceable supply chain for Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification, boosting the demand and export potential of bamboo products.

Shri Charanjit Singh highlighted that bamboo cultivation offers a unique opportunity to improve livelihoods while contributing to environmental conservation. He stated, "This program is a testament to our commitment to empowering rural women and promoting sustainable development, creating lasting economic opportunities while advancing climate mitigation and resilience."

Alexandria Huerta emphasized the importance of addressing gender-related inequalities and promoting locally led development as part of USAID’s global strategy. She expressed satisfaction that USAID's POWER project is empowering women and providing a successful, locally led, natural climate solution being scaled up through NRLM.

Ms. Swati Sharma, Joint Secretary of Rural Livelihoods, Ministry of Rural Development, noted that empowering rural women through bamboo cultivation aligns with the mission of promoting sustainable livelihoods and inclusive growth. She stated, "This program not only provides economic opportunities but also contributes to environmental sustainability. We believe this initiative will serve as a model for rural development and women's empowerment across the country."

Neelam Chhiber, Co-founder of Industree Foundation, highlighted bamboo cultivation's potential to transform rural economies and improve the lives of countless women. She noted that foundations have been created for 5,500 farmers from Karnataka and Maharashtra to have sustainable income from the fourth year and for a minimum of forty years. Chhiber emphasized the goal of providing women with the skills, resources, and market access needed for success.

The symposium underscored bamboo’s potential as a sustainable alternative in various industries, aiming to enhance livelihoods and significantly contribute to environmental conservation and sustainable development goals.

Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana aims to empower 1 million rural women as 'Lakhpati Didis' (women earning over INR 100,000 annually) through bamboo farming, driving economic independence and sustainable development across India.

The Industree Foundation's partnership with DAY-NRLM builds on the success of USAID's Producer-Owned Women Enterprises (POWER) project, implemented by Industree in three states. This project has aggregated over 10,000 women into 37 women-owned enterprises and farmer producer collectives, fulfilling market orders worth over $3 million over the past five years. This successful model will be scaled nationwide in collaboration with State Rural Livelihoods Missions.