Drought tolerant bamboo saplings planted in Jaisalmer by KVIC and BSF

In an unique effort to turn the deserted land into Bamboo Oasis, Border Security Forces (BSF) and Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) have jointly planted 1000 bamboo saplings near the famous Tanot Mata Temple in Jaisalmer.

Project BOLD (Bamboo Oasis on Lands in Draught) was launched on 4th July from a tamborine village Nichla Mandwa in Udaipur district in Rajasthan with plantation of 5000 saplings of special bamboo species over 25 bigha of arid land.

The Bamboo saplings have been planted over 2.50 lakh sq feet of Gram Panchayat land near the famous Tanot Mata Temple which is located close to Longewala Post on the Indo-Pak Border. Situated nearly 120 Kms from the Jaisalmer city, Tanot has become one of most visited tourist spots in Rajasthan. KVIC plans to develop the bamboo-based green patch in Tanot as a tourist attraction. BSF will be responsible for maintaining the plants.

According to the KVIC chairman, the bamboo plantation in the deserts of Jaisalmer will serve multiple objectives, i.e. preventing desertification, environment protection and creating a sustainable model of development by supporting rural and bamboo-based industries.

In the next three years, these bamboos will be ready for harvest. While this will generate recurring income for the local villagers; KVIC will also develop this green patch into a tourist spot considering the large footfall of tourists visiting Longewala post and the Tanot Mata Temple.At the current market rate of Rs 5000 per ton, this bamboo produce will generate an income of nearly Rs 5 lakh after three years and later on every year, thus supporting the local economy.

Apart from preventing desertification and conserving water and hence useful in arid and drought-prone regions,  bamboo can be used for making agarbatti sticks, furniture, handicraft, musical instruments and paper pulp while the bamboo waste is widely used in making charcoal and fuel briquette.