Bamboo: The 'ATM Plant' for Barren Land, Government Subsidies Boost Farmer Income

• Bamboo cultivation offers a profitable alternative for farmers with barren or less fertile land, requiring minimal irrigation and effort.
• Mali Ramsiya Patel, an agricultural expert from Sidhi, Madhya Pradesh, highlights bamboo's suitability for diverse soil types and its long-term yield potential.
• Farmers can plant 800-1000 bamboo plants per acre, maintaining a 3-4 meter distance, with the first harvest after about five years.
• Known as the 'King of Grass', bamboo has diverse uses, from furniture and construction to eco-friendly products, driving high demand.
• A single bamboo plantation can yield for up to 50 years, generating approximately one lakh rupees annually per acre, supported by a 50% government subsidy under the National Bamboo Mission.

Why It Matters: Bamboo cultivation on barren land offers farmers long-term income, diverse uses, and significant government subsidies.