Agroforestry support measures: export policy change for bamboo charcoal and extension materials
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change adjusted export policy for bamboo charcoal and published agroforestry cultivation guides for farmers and field practitioners.
- Bamboo charcoal exports became “Free” under the Central Government’s amended export policy, aiming to support higher value addition in the bamboo sector.
- The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change published farmer-facing agroforestry guidance—FAQ on Agroforestry and separate cultivation booklets—so farmers and tree growers can follow cultivation practices for selected tree species.
What happened
In May 2022, the Central Government amended the export policy to make the export of bamboo charcoal “Free” to increase value addition in the bamboo sector and to improve profitability and livelihood opportunities linked with bamboo-based industries. In March 2023, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change released an “FAQ on Agroforestry” guide covering cultivation practices for 36 selected tree species suitable for agroforestry systems and home gardens.
Background and earlier position
UPSC can frame this as an interaction between trade policy (export rules for bamboo charcoal) and on-ground capacity building (agroforestry cultivation guidance), asking how policy instruments can promote sustainable land use and farm-linked forest value chains.
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