Odisha govt inks slew of MoUs to bolster bamboo and medicinal plant-based livelihoods

The Odisha government on Thursday inked slew of MoUs with multiple agencies in a bid to promote prospects of sustainable livelihood in bamboo and herbal sectors, said officials.

Several key MoUs were signed, during the National Conference on Bamboo and Medicinal Plants at Bhubaneswar, between Odisha Bamboo Development Agency (OBDA) and Kerala Forest Research Institute (KFRI), International Bamboo and Rattan Organization (INBAR), National Institute of Design (NID), and between State Medicinal Plant Board (SMPB) and Foundation for Revitalisation of Local Health Traditions (FRLHT), M S Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF), and Institute of Rural Management Anand (IRMA).

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These partnerships aim to enhance scientific research, design innovation, conservation strategies, and herbal product commercialization. The Odisha Bamboo Haat website was also launched to promote digital marketing of bamboo products.

The strengthening bamboo and medicinal plant-based livelihoods was emphasized at a National Conference on held here on Thursday.

The event brought together senior officials, technical institutions, industry experts, and community organisations to discuss opportunities for viable income from bamboo and medicinal plants.

The conference began with an address by K. Murugesan, Project Director, Odisha Forestry Sector Development Project (OFSDP).

This was followed by a presentation of the State Vision Plan for Bamboo and State Medicinal Plants Board (SMPB) by V Karthick, highlighting Odisha’s roadmap for conservation, cultivation, value addition, and market integration.

Suresh Pant, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests & Head of Forest Force (PCCF & HoFF), delivered the Guest of Honour address, followed by the Special Address by Satyabrata Sahu, Additional Chief Secretary.

Forest and Environment Minister Ganesh Ram Singhkhuntia addressed the gathering, underlining the state’s commitment to promoting sustainable bamboo and herbal sectors.

The technical sessions included presentations and panel discussions led by experts from KONBAC, KFRI, INBAR, URAVU, CGBMT, Common Ground, Vindhya Herbals, TNMPHC, Chhattisgarh Herbs. Discussions focused on livelihood models, sustainable construction, design innovation, best practices in medicinal plant cultivation, and strengthening market linkages.

The conference concluded with an open discussion and closing remarks, reaffirming Odisha’s commitment to building a sustainable and community-driven ecosystem for bamboo and medicinal plant development.