Odisha recently held a two-day state-level workshop focused on bamboo cultivation at the Mission Shakti Bhawan Auditorium in Bhubaneswar, marking a pivotal effort to empower women farmers through sustainable livelihoods. Spearheaded by Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida, the initiative supports the ambitious “Lakhpati Didi” program, aiming to uplift one lakh women farmers financially. Attendees explored bamboo farming techniques, value-added processing, marketing strategies, and export opportunities. Experts highlighted Odisha’s ideal climate for bamboo cultivation and discussed innovations such as FSC certification and carbon credit monetization, alongside collaborations with national programs like MGNREGS and the National Bamboo Mission. Women-led enterprises were emphasized for their environmental impact and potential to drive rural economic transformation, with self-help groups playing an active role. This initiative sets the stage for a bamboo-based economic revolution, empowering thousands of women entrepreneurs.
Odisha Plants Seeds of Empowerment with Bamboo Cultivation Drive for Women Farmers
