Empowering 1 Lakh Women Farmers through Bamboo in Odisha

𝗔 𝗠𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲, 𝗪𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻-𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗟𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗱𝘀

Industree Foundation signed an MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) with Odisha Livelihoods Mission (OLM) in Bhubaneswar on May 29, 2025, during the Lakhpati Didi Conclave 2025, which was inaugurated by Shri Mohan Charan Majhi, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Odisha. Smt. Pravati Parida, Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister, Smt. Anu Garg, IAS, Development Commissioner; Smt. Shalini Pandit, IAS, Commissioner- cum- Secretary, Department of Mission Shakti graced the occasion.

The MoU was signed in the presence of Dr Monica Priyadarshini IAS, the SMD / CEO of OLM, and Mission Shakti. This partnership will result in integrating 1 lakh farmers into the bamboo plantation and bamboo value chain over the next 4 years, and further setting up collective enterprises of women using bamboo.

Odisha Livelihoods Mission (OLM), along with Industree Foundation as its technical and knowledge partner, will begin with 5,000 women planting bamboo farmers across the tribal districts of the state this monsoon. This effort is part of the Bamboo Sub-Sector Initiative by the National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM) of the Government of India. It aims to empower a million rural women over the next 4-5 years through bamboo cultivation and connect them to markets.

Industree focuses on building traceable supply chains by taking a seed-to-market approach that caters to national and global demand. Previously, we have signed MoUs with State Rural Livelihood Missions (SRLMs) of Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana to support small and marginal women farmers in bamboo cultivation.