Production of bamboo-based products like handicrafts, furniture and sticks for Agarbatti-making in Tripura has grown three-fold to Rs 93.05 crore since 2006-07.
Expressing satisfaction at the growth rate, the state Forest Minister, Mr Jitendra Chowdhury, said there had been a commensurate increase in revenue also.
“While in 2006-07 our turnover was Rs 28 crore, it grew more than three-fold at Rs 93.05 crore this year which represents a 240 per cent absolute growth rate,” Mr Chowdhury said.
Buoyed by the development, the State Government has set a target of Rs 200 crore per annum by 2016, he said.
The Minister, who also holds the industry portfolio, said the state earns 80 per cent of its profit from bamboo products by making sticks for Agarbatti, which met 60 per cent of the country’s total demand. The state has set a revenue target of Rs 54 crore next year from bamboo and handicrafts alone.
According to the State Government, there are 21 known species of bamboo. Bamboo is used by 2.5 billion people worldwide, of which one billion people use it for housing.
Mr Chowdhury said the State Government in collaboration with the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council, home to tribals constituting one third of the state population, has launched a massive drive for bamboo cultivation in the state.