Agriculture / Odisha Bamboo Sector Gets PRAMAAN Certification Under IFWCS, Mayurbhanj Farmer Honoured

Bhubaneswar, Sep 29: Odisha's bamboo sector achieved a significant milestone on Tuesday with the conferment of the PRAMAAN Certificate under the Indian Forest & Wood Certification Scheme (IFWCS), reinforcing the State's efforts to promote sustainable bamboo cultivation and strengthen farmer livelihoods, officials said on Tuesday.

The certificate was presented by Union Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Bhupender Yadav in the presence of Ministry officials, including Secretary Tanmay Kumar and Director General of Forests Sushil Kumar Awasthi.

The certification was received by Gobinda Mahapatra, a bamboo farmer from Laxmiposi village under Gobardhansul in Mayurbhanj district, along with Karthick V, Mission Director of the Odisha Bamboo Development Agency (OBDA).

Granted under the scope of Trees Outside Forests Management and Chain of Custody (TOFM-CoC), the certification covers 14.03 hectares of bamboo plantations spread across four plots in Gobardhansul and Ranibhol villages. The certified species include Bambusa vulgaris, Bambusa nutans and Dendrocalamus strictus, which are widely used in construction and furniture manufacturing.

The certification process was carried out through a rigorous audit conducted by a certification body accredited by the National Accreditation Board for Certification Bodies (NABCB). The recognition validates that the bamboo has been cultivated and sourced legally and sustainably, in line with nationally accepted standards.

Officials said the certification is expected to improve market confidence and create access to premium domestic and international markets for bamboo growers in Odisha. It is also likely to enhance the value of farm-grown bamboo by assuring buyers of traceability and sustainable harvesting practices.
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The initiative was funded, coordinated and supported by the Odisha Bamboo Development Agency through the Indian Institute of Forest Management (IIFM), Bhopal. The achievement underscores the agency's sustained efforts to promote bamboo-based livelihoods, encourage scientific cultivation practices and integrate farmers into organised value chains.

With growing demand for eco-friendly raw materials, the certification is seen as a stepping stone towards positioning Odisha as a leading player in India's bamboo economy. The recognition is also expected to encourage more farmers to adopt sustainable bamboo cultivation, contributing to rural income generation and green economic growth.