This success of the initial set of 11 communities attracted other villages, and by 2018, nearly 30 communities (out of the total of 62 with CFR Rights) had initiated the process of selling bamboo directly to Central Pulp Mills.
Help us tailor the website experience to your taste. Make some selections to let the website work better for you.
I am Interested in
Suggestions for You
No record found
Communities in Narmada district, Gujarat have collectively sold more than 150,000 tonnes of bamboo to Central Pulp Mills, a unit of JK Paper Ltd., over the last five years, generating a cumulative turnover of over ₹32 Crores. This business opportunity has been made possible through the provision of Community Forest Rights (CFR) titles under the Forest Rights Act, 2006. The 30 communities involved in bamboo sale have undertaken several new initiatives to build on this opportunity, including management for sustainable harvests.
Historically bamboo was harvested directly by the Central Pulp Mills (CPM). After seeking necessary permissions from the Forest Department in 2014, a cluster of 11 communities entered into an agreement with Central Pulp Mills and initiated the process of harvesting bamboo for direct sale. The villagers decided to exclusively harvest only dry and matured bamboo (more than three years old) to ensure sustainability. This locally devised procedure of bamboo management has not only promoted livelihoods but has also contributed towards rapid bamboo regeneration in the forest. These sustained efforts have led to increased productivity with an average yearly sale of 20,512 tonnes of bamboo.
This success of the initial set of 11 communities attracted other villages, and by 2018, nearly 30 communities (out of the total of 62 with CFR Rights) had initiated the process of selling bamboo directly to Central Pulp Mills.
The villagers typically meet once before each harvest season to decide the wage for harvesting bamboo. In the event of high bamboo stock, people from nearby villages participate in the process of harvesting, for which they are paid a fair wage. The meticulous process of harvesting bamboo is shown in Figure 2.
Like any new system, there were a few initial challenges. For example, in the early days, the Forest Department suspected the villagers of cutting green instead of dry bamboo, which was found to be untrue. It took considerable effort for the villagers to build a partnership based on trust. Further, the villagers were concerned about the proper utilization of funds. To ensure confidence in the new system, most communities decided to invest a fraction of the net revenues as a fixed-term deposit. This helped increase the participation of villagers in the process.