Pune: The BambooCon exhibition and international conference concluded with a strong call to strengthen the bamboo sector through cooperative models and institutional policy support.
Speaking at the closing ceremony of BambooCon, former Union Minister Suresh Prabhu said bamboo has the potential to transform rural economies and should be viewed as a sustainable industry.
According to Prabhu, bamboo is a “magical crop” capable of bringing significant economic and environmental benefits. He emphasized that if the bamboo sector receives support from cooperative institutions and structured policy frameworks, the industry can develop rapidly.
The two-day BambooCon exhibition and conference was organized by the Institute of Management Development and Research (IMDR), run by the Deccan Education Society.
The event featured discussions on themes such as “Bamboo in the Cooperative Movement: Building Sustainability and Prosperity” and “Leadership through Data: Strategy, Innovation and Impact.”
Officials of the institution, faculty members, staff, and students attended the closing ceremony in large numbers. During BambooCon, Prabhu also visited the bamboo exhibition, appreciated the efforts of producers, and interacted with students.
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BambooCon: Bamboo Is Large-Scale Industry of the Future
Speaking at BambooCon, Prabhu recalled that bamboo cultivation received its first major push in India in 1998, when he served as the Environment Minister in the cabinet of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. He noted that bamboo has the capacity to significantly impact both the environment and the economy of the country.
“Nearly 80–90 percent of people in India are associated with the cooperative sector in some way. There are many successful examples of cooperatives. Maharashtra has several instances where cooperative movements have led to socio-economic progress,” he said during the BambooCon event.
Prabhu pointed out that cooperative initiatives have historically transformed agricultural sectors. “In Maharashtra, sugarcane farmers began earning sustainable incomes through cooperatives.
A similar transformation happened with apple growers in Himachal Pradesh. Brands such as Amul emerged through cooperative models, and even initiatives like mother’s milk banks have been established through cooperative efforts,” he said at BambooCon.
Highlighting the future potential of the bamboo sector, Prabhu stated that bamboo should not be seen merely as a crop but as a large-scale industry of the future. He stressed that the cooperative model can play a key role in transforming rural areas and improving farmers’ income.
Speaking further at BambooCon, he noted that while crops such as sugarcane may have negative impacts on soil and the environment, bamboo cultivation has positive environmental benefits. Bamboo contributes to reducing carbon emissions and supports the development of a green economy.
Because of these advantages, Prabhu emphasized the need to integrate bamboo and other agricultural products with cooperative systems to unlock their full potential. According to him, cooperatives ensure that the wealth generated through industry flows directly to their members.
He added that through cooperative institutions, high-quality bamboo designs and products can be developed, enabling better marketing, sales, and exports. Such an approach would directly benefit farmers and rural communities.
Prabhu concluded at BambooCon that the cooperative sector has the potential to become a game-changer for the bamboo industry, accelerating its growth and strengthening rural economic development.
