The plantation of bamboo in an area of 1.89 lakh hectare across the country has exceeded the target set for five years, up to the current fiscal. An official release said, under the National Bamboo Mission 1.76 lakh hectare area was targeted to be covered from 2006-07 to 2011-12.

Out of 1.89 lakh hectare, 1.33 lakh hectare is in forest area and 56 thousand hectare in non-forest area. The release said, about 47 thousand hectare of existing bamboo plantation has been improved for higher productivity. In different States, 1194 nurseries have been established to supply quality-planting material.

A total of 485.39 crore rupees has been spent by the Centre on the Mission so far since its inception in 2006-07. The total allocation for the Mission for 2006-07 to 2011-12 is 568 crore rupees.

The Mission was launched in 2006-07 in 27 States to harness the potential of bamboo crop. Its key objective is to increase productivity of bamboo from 3 tonne per hectare to 20 tonne.