<p>Palghar: To combat the growing crisis of climate change, tribal farmers in Palghar district have geared up to plant one crore bamboo trees, realizing the dream of a green Maharashtra while supplying oxygen to neighboring Mumbai, the financial capital of India. </p><p>To take it ahead, the ambitious 'Bamboo Mission Plantation' programme was launched through the efforts of the Palghar district administration and the Shramjeevi Sanghatana.</p><p>As per the Maharashtra government's policy, bamboo plantation melas (fairs) were organized across all tehsils of Palghar district for planting bamboo on forest lease lands (vanpatta) and private lands. </p> .<p>These melas are being held under the leadership of Pasha Patel, Chairman, State Agricultural Price Commission and Vivek Bhau Pandit, Chairman, State-Level Tribal Development Review Committee. </p><p>Accordingly, 'Bamboo Mission Farmer Melas’ were successfully held in Satwali Usgaon, Wada, Vikramgad, Dahanu, Talasari, Mokhada, and Jawhar, which was attended by farmers.</p><p>"After a long struggle, tribal farmers gained rights to forest lease lands. Now, by initiating bamboo plantation on these lands, the goal is to uplift the living standards of tribals, protect the environment, and supply oxygen to Greater Mumbai. To achieve this, thousands of farmers have started preparatory work and plantation programs in coordination with all state government agencies. We have set a target to plant one crore bamboo trees collectively in Thane and Palghar districts,” said Pandit.</p><p>Vasai MLA Sneha Dubey Pandit said: "There is no alternative to bamboo plantation on the leased lands granted to tribals. Traditional paddy farming is no longer viable. Through bamboo plantation, we aim to generate oxygen, create self-employment, and improve the living standards of tribals.”</p> .<p>At both melas, Patel provided in-depth guidance and brainstorming on the climate change crisis and the need for bamboo plantation. Patel said, "The visible impacts of climate change are evident everywhere. To mitigate the adverse effects on humanity, there is an urgent need for tree plantation, but other trees have limitations. Hence, we have chosen bamboo, a fast-growing, eco-friendly alternative.”</p><p>Under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), a subsidy of Rs 7.04 lakh will be provided for bamboo plantation. Patel highlighted that 2,000 types of products can be made from bamboo.</p> .<p>Bamboo plantation is essential to curb rising carbon emissions and temperature increases. Subsidies for bamboo plantation, product manufacturing from bamboo, and oxygen production will benefit not only tribals but also the citizens of Greater Mumbai in urban areas.</p><p>The state government has allocated Rs 4,300 crore in this year's budget for bamboo processing. </p><p>Sanjeev Karpe, Managing Director of Konbac and an international bamboo expert, presented the success stories of bamboo-producing farmers in Sindhudurg district. Noting the rising demand for bamboo, he warned that bamboo may fall short in the future and urged Palghar, a region suitable for bamboo, to take the lead in bamboo plantation.</p><p>Traditional paddy farming has become unprofitable, and farmers expressed confidence in adopting bamboo plantation as a viable alternative to achieve their goals.</p><p>"We experienced the critical need for oxygen during the previous COVID crisis. Now, reports of a renewed COVID outbreak in China, Singapore, and Hong Kong are emerging. It is an undeniable truth that trees produce oxygen. Bamboo plantation is the only way to realize the dream of a rapidly greening Maharashtra," said Patel. </p><p>"Traditional farming no longer leaves anything in the hands of farmers, nor does it yield savings. By planting bamboo, which produces oxygen for urban populations, along with government subsidies and the potential of 2,000 bamboo-based products, the lives of bamboo-producing farmers will be transformed in the coming years,' he added.</p>
<p>Palghar: To combat the growing crisis of climate change, tribal farmers in Palghar district have geared up to plant one crore bamboo trees, realizing the dream of a green Maharashtra while supplying oxygen to neighboring Mumbai, the financial capital of India. </p><p>To take it ahead, the ambitious 'Bamboo Mission Plantation' programme was launched through the efforts of the Palghar district administration and the Shramjeevi Sanghatana.</p><p>As per the Maharashtra government's policy, bamboo plantation melas (fairs) were organized across all tehsils of Palghar district for planting bamboo on forest lease lands (vanpatta) and private lands. </p> .<p>These melas are being held under the leadership of Pasha Patel, Chairman, State Agricultural Price Commission and Vivek Bhau Pandit, Chairman, State-Level Tribal Development Review Committee. </p><p>Accordingly, 'Bamboo Mission Farmer Melas’ were successfully held in Satwali Usgaon, Wada, Vikramgad, Dahanu, Talasari, Mokhada, and Jawhar, which was attended by farmers.</p><p>"After a long struggle, tribal farmers gained rights to forest lease lands. Now, by initiating bamboo plantation on these lands, the goal is to uplift the living standards of tribals, protect the environment, and supply oxygen to Greater Mumbai. To achieve this, thousands of farmers have started preparatory work and plantation programs in coordination with all state government agencies. We have set a target to plant one crore bamboo trees collectively in Thane and Palghar districts,” said Pandit.</p><p>Vasai MLA Sneha Dubey Pandit said: "There is no alternative to bamboo plantation on the leased lands granted to tribals. Traditional paddy farming is no longer viable. Through bamboo plantation, we aim to generate oxygen, create self-employment, and improve the living standards of tribals.”</p> .<p>At both melas, Patel provided in-depth guidance and brainstorming on the climate change crisis and the need for bamboo plantation. Patel said, "The visible impacts of climate change are evident everywhere. To mitigate the adverse effects on humanity, there is an urgent need for tree plantation, but other trees have limitations. Hence, we have chosen bamboo, a fast-growing, eco-friendly alternative.”</p><p>Under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), a subsidy of Rs 7.04 lakh will be provided for bamboo plantation. Patel highlighted that 2,000 types of products can be made from bamboo.</p> .<p>Bamboo plantation is essential to curb rising carbon emissions and temperature increases. Subsidies for bamboo plantation, product manufacturing from bamboo, and oxygen production will benefit not only tribals but also the citizens of Greater Mumbai in urban areas.</p><p>The state government has allocated Rs 4,300 crore in this year's budget for bamboo processing. </p><p>Sanjeev Karpe, Managing Director of Konbac and an international bamboo expert, presented the success stories of bamboo-producing farmers in Sindhudurg district. Noting the rising demand for bamboo, he warned that bamboo may fall short in the future and urged Palghar, a region suitable for bamboo, to take the lead in bamboo plantation.</p><p>Traditional paddy farming has become unprofitable, and farmers expressed confidence in adopting bamboo plantation as a viable alternative to achieve their goals.</p><p>"We experienced the critical need for oxygen during the previous COVID crisis. Now, reports of a renewed COVID outbreak in China, Singapore, and Hong Kong are emerging. It is an undeniable truth that trees produce oxygen. Bamboo plantation is the only way to realize the dream of a rapidly greening Maharashtra," said Patel. </p><p>"Traditional farming no longer leaves anything in the hands of farmers, nor does it yield savings. By planting bamboo, which produces oxygen for urban populations, along with government subsidies and the potential of 2,000 bamboo-based products, the lives of bamboo-producing farmers will be transformed in the coming years,' he added.</p>