National Bamboo Mission

National Bamboo Mission is a centrally sponsored scheme of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare that supports the complete bamboo value chain, from planting quality material to processing, product development and marketing. The restructured mission currently runs in 24 states and union territories, and its online portal for information and application is live for eligible farmers, entrepreneurs and self-help groups.

Bamboo has become a strong cash crop for Indian farmers since the 2017 change in the Indian Forest Act that removed bamboo from the definition of a tree when grown in non-forest areas. National Bamboo Mission helps growers, artisans and small businesses make use of this opportunity with financial support and market connections.

National Bamboo Mission - Introduction

National Bamboo Mission was restructured and approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs in April 2018 as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS). It is implemented through the state nodal department nominated by each state or union territory government, and the actual selection of beneficiaries and payment of support is handled by the State Bamboo Mission or State Bamboo Development Agency.

India has the largest area under bamboo in the world, about 13.96 million hectares, and ranks second after China in bamboo diversity with 136 species. The bamboo and rattan industry of India is worth about ₹28,005 crore. The mission uses this natural advantage to raise farm incomes and cut dependence on bamboo imports, especially in the agarbatti and handicraft sectors.

The mission works on a regionally planned, end-to-end value chain approach with a special focus on the north eastern states and other bamboo-rich states such as Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Karnataka, Uttarakhand, Bihar, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. The main aims of the mission are:

• Increasing bamboo plantations on non-forest government and private land, farms, homesteads, community areas, arable wastelands and along irrigation canals and water bodies to add to farm income and support climate goals.
• Making high quality planting material available by setting up new bamboo nurseries and strengthening existing ones.
• Improving the harvest side by supporting primary processing, treatment and preservation units close to the fields.
• Encouraging product development, value addition, micro, small and medium enterprises and strong marketing links with the industry.
• Providing training and skill development to build a skilled workforce for the bamboo economy.

Key Information

Benefits

National Bamboo Mission offers financial and technical support at every stage of the bamboo value chain. The support is delivered mainly as a credit-linked back-ended subsidy with a pattern of 50:10:40, meaning 50% subsidy, 10% own contribution and 40% loan, with an added 10% support for the private sector in the north eastern states. The key benefits include:

• Financial help for setting up new bamboo nurseries and raising commercially important bamboo plantations on private and non-forest land.
• Support for primary processing, treatment and preservation units as well as product development and value-addition facilities.
• Help in forming bamboo-based Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) and linking them to larger markets and funding.
• Market infrastructure development, including a dedicated bamboo window on the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) portal for selling bamboo products and services.
• Training and skill development programs organized by the mission and its state agencies.

Physical progress of the restructured mission as of December 2024 shows 408 bamboo nurseries (including 14 accredited nurseries) set up, about 60,000 hectares of non-forest area covered under plantation, 104 bamboo treatment and preservation units established, 528 product development and processing units created and 130 market infrastructure facilities built for bamboo trade.

Eligibility

Farmers, self-help groups, farmer producer organizations, entrepreneurs, artisans and micro, small and medium enterprises involved in the bamboo sector can apply for support under National Bamboo Mission. There are no strict educational qualifications required. As long as you have land with the required land records, or a clear project plan for processing and marketing, you can apply through the State Bamboo Mission or State Bamboo Development Agency in your state.

Application Process

Application for National Bamboo Mission is done through the state nodal department and the State Bamboo Mission or State Bamboo Development Agency that runs the scheme in your area. Follow these steps to apply:

STEP 1 - Visit the official National Bamboo Mission portal at nbm.da.gov.in and find the details for your state from the list of implementing agencies.

STEP 2 - Contact or visit the State Bamboo Mission or State Bamboo Development Agency office of your state to get the correct application form and understand the eligible components for your project.

STEP 3 - Prepare your Detailed Project Report (DPR) and submit the application form along with it through the authorised process of your state agency or the MIS portal.

STEP 4 - Wait for the state agency to review and verify your project details and land records.

STEP 5 - Once approved, proceed with credit-linked financing through a commercial or scheduled bank, where the back-ended subsidy of 50:10:40 applies.

STEP 6 - Keep the agency updated with project progress reports, and the subsidy amount will be paid out after the work is checked and completed.

Documents

Keep these documents ready while applying for National Bamboo Mission:

• Valid Aadhaar number for identity verification.
• Land documents proving ownership or lease rights.
• Caste certificate, if applicable for SC, ST or other reserved categories.
• Active phone number and updated bank account details.
• Recent photographs.
• A detailed project report (DPR) describing your bamboo project.

Document requirements can differ depending on the nature of your project and your state. It is always a good idea to confirm the exact list from the State Bamboo Mission office in your state before submitting the application.

References

Official Website of National Bamboo Mission

View Revised Operational Guidelines PDF

Read National Bamboo Mission PIB Report

FAQ's

Is National Bamboo Mission a Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) scheme?

No, National Bamboo Mission is not a direct benefit transfer scheme. Support is provided mainly as a credit-linked back-ended subsidy with a 50:10:40 pattern, paid after the project work is completed and checked.

Who can get benefits under the mission?

Farmers, self-help groups, farmer producer organizations, entrepreneurs, artisans, MSMEs and bamboo business units involved in the bamboo value chain can get support from the mission.

What kind of help can I receive?

You can get help for nursery establishment, bamboo plantation, primary processing, treatment and preservation units, product development, market infrastructure, FPO formation and skill training.

Do I need any specific educational qualification to apply?

No, there are no educational requirements. You need land with proper land records, or a clear project plan for processing and marketing, to apply.

Can I apply if I already get support from other government schemes?

Yes, you can take part in National Bamboo Mission even if you are covered under other schemes, as long as you meet the specific criteria of each scheme.

Where should I submit my application?

You should apply through the State Bamboo Mission or State Bamboo Development Agency in your state, which is the implementing body of the mission.

Which documents must I prepare before applying?

You will need your Aadhaar, land documents, bank account details, photographs, caste certificate (if applicable) and a detailed project report (DPR).