Maharashtra is set to launch a groundbreaking initiative to develop bamboo-based industries with an investment of Rs 4,000 crore. This ambitious project, focused on enhancing bamboo cultivation and its industrial applications, will span the next seven years, supported by the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
The project is spearheaded by Pasha Patel, a seasoned politician and Chairman of the State Agriculture Price Commission, as well as Executive Chairman of the Chief Minister’s Task Force on Environment and Sustainability. Patel is dedicated to promoting the growth of bamboo trees across the state.
Praveen Pardeshi, CEO of the Maharashtra Institute of Transformation (MITRA) and Chief Economic Advisor to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, provided further details about the project. He confirmed that Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with farmers and Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) will be signed at a conference in Mumbai on September 18-19, coinciding with International Bamboo Day on September 18.
“The Rs 4,000 crore project for bamboo-based industries will be implemented over the next seven years, with support from the ADB. MoUs with farmers and FPOs will be formalized during a conference in Mumbai on September 18-19,” Pardeshi said, according to the Deccan Herald.
In alignment with the country’s biomass policy, there is growing demand for bamboo, particularly for energy production. Pardeshi stressed that bamboo should be processed into torrefied and pellet forms, rather than being supplied raw, in order to maximize its value.
This ADB-backed initiative, modeled after the SMART project, also aims to establish a sustainable bamboo industry in Maharashtra. Pardeshi pointed out that this project would address the long-standing challenge of post-cultivation bamboo sales, ensuring a steady market for farmers.
“Bamboo has immense potential. It can produce energy, ethanol, methanol, and a range of other products, thus creating a new economy in Maharashtra,” he said.
To meet bamboo cultivation targets, Pardeshi encouraged FPOs to engage with farmers owning more than 100 acres. He assured that both the government and industries would guarantee a buyback for the bamboo produced, ensuring farmers’ financial stability.
Dr. Hemant Vasekar, CEO of the SMART project, assured that support for bamboo cultivation and processing would be provided through existing FPO networks to ensure smooth implementation of the initiative.
Assam’s Bamboo-to-Ethanol Project: A Game-Changer for Northeast India
Alongside Maharashtra’s initiative, Assam is also making strides in leveraging bamboo for sustainable energy production. Recently, Engineers India Limited (EIL) announced the successful mechanical completion of the prestigious Bio Refinery Project by Assam Bio Ethanol Private Limited (ABEPL) in Numaligarh, Assam. The project is set to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 14 during his visit to the state.
The Numaligarh-based plant, which focuses on producing 49,000 TPA of bioethanol, 11,000 TPA of acetic acid, and 19,000 TPA of Furfural from bamboo feedstock, marks a significant milestone in the country’s ethanol production capabilities. The project is being executed by EIL in EPCM mode directly from the demo stage, utilizing technology provided by Chempolis OY.
The bamboo-based bioethanol plant has achieved a major technological breakthrough by producing 99.7% purified ethanol, setting a new precedent for second-generation (2G) ethanol production in India. This facility, the first of its kind in the country, converts bamboo biomass into ethanol and is expected to transform the energy landscape of Northeast India.
Touted as a transformative project for the region, the facility will benefit over 50,000 people involved in the bamboo supply chain. Additionally, the plant is self-sufficient in power, generating 25 MW of captive electricity, and operates as a zero-waste facility, further underlining its sustainability credentials.
Both Maharashtra and Assam are pioneering projects that highlight bamboo’s vast potential as a sustainable resource, contributing to economic growth, rural development, and environmental sustainability across India.
