Dalmia Cement And NABARD Team Up To Promote Sustainable Livelihood Through Bamboo Cultivation In Odisha
Bhubaneswar: Dalmia Cement (Bharat) Limited (DCBL), a prominent player in the Indian cement industry and a subsidiary of Dalmia Bharat Limited (DBL), has teamed up with the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) to initiate a project aimed at promoting sustainable farming practices and creating livelihood opportunities through the establishment of bamboo plantations in the Sundargarh region of Odisha.
This groundbreaking initiative aims to empower farmers by facilitating the buyback of bamboo and facilitating their access to lucrative vegetable markets through registered Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) under NABARD, ensuring a fair and sustainable income stream. Bamboo cultivation not only benefits the environment but also enriches soil, replenishes groundwater, and enhances agricultural productivity. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed in the presence of Mr. Tapas Kumar Behera, DDM, NABARD, Sundargarh, along with Shri Chetan Shrivastava, Executive Director, DCBL & Unit Head, Rajgangpur.
The project launch event took place at Alanda, where bamboo saplings were distributed among the attending farmers as a symbol of empowerment, marking the commencement of a green revolution in the surrounding villages. Valuable insights into the project’s objectives and processes were shared by DDM NABARD, emphasizing the commitment to providing comprehensive support to farmers throughout their journey towards prosperity.
Shri Chetan Srivastava, Executive Director, DCBL and Unit Head, Rajgangpur, commented on the initiative, stating, “At Dalmia Cement, we are dedicated to promoting sustainable development and inclusive growth for communities in the regions where we operate. Through our collaboration with NABARD, we aim to catalyze a green revolution in agriculture, harnessing the immense potential of bamboo cultivation to create a lasting positive impact. We are grateful to NABARD for partnering with us on this significant project, laying the groundwork for a greener, more prosperous future.”
Under this program, farmers will be empowered to become producers, thereby driving economic prosperity within their communities. This empowerment includes providing access to high-quality bamboo saplings, technical assistance, and market linkages for both bamboo and high-value vegetable crops. Emphasizing sustainability, the initiative promotes biomass utilization, aligning with the company’s commitment to environmental responsibility and energy efficiency.
Dalmia Cement is actively involved in conducting diverse programs aimed at skill development and fostering sustainable livelihoods in Odisha. These initiatives are specifically designed to uplift marginalized communities in the region, encompassing empowerment programs for farmers, youth, and women through various training sessions, skill development opportunities, and income-generating activities such as animal husbandry, mushroom farming, handicraft production, spices and pickle making, flower and organic vegetable farming, and terracotta product manufacturing, among others.
