Feature Article

Bamboo occupies a prominent place in the socio-economic and cultural life of Indians. It has been a source of number of uses since ancient times. India is the second largest in bamboo production with the highest growing stock concentrated in the North-East states.

Tripura state has several bamboo species of which muli bamboo (Melocanna baccifera) constitutes more than 80% of all its species. Bamboo plays an important role in its rural economy by providing sustenance employment and household income.

The forest resources of all the states are dwindling and the supply of forest produce to forest based industries has to be re-examined. In this context the supply rates of Bamboo Industrial Cuts to various paper mills of Andhra Pradesh and adjoining states of A.P. have been analyzed.

Bamboos are potential bioresources of tangible and intangible values for humankind. Tropical and sub-tropical Indian forests and agrarian ecosystems harbour great species diversity of bamboos. Majority of bamboo species find favourable niche in the North-Eastern region of the country.

Bamboo is one of the fastest growing plant species which occurs under varied climatic and edaphic conditions. In the present review the distribution and productivity of different species of bamboo in India have been discussed.

Bamboos, which are widespread in Manipur, offer numerous opportunities in this regard, and there is much potential for expanding it.

National Bamboo Mission envisages bamboo plantations over more than 1.7 ha which will need more than 7 crore plants. It is not enough to rely upon seedlings alone to meet this requirement and several organizations have started experimenting propagation by vegetative methods.

Bamboo is a versatile group of plants, which is capable of providing ecological, economic and livelihood security to the people. Importance of the crop as a source of raw material for industrial and domestic use with its growing demand all over the country necessitated its cultivation in farm lands as well.

The present paper reports on establishment of Bambusetum, Germplasm banks and Culm production studies at JK Paper Limited, Jaykaypur, Rayagada (Orissa) and supplying it to the farmers, State Forest Department, Government and Non-Government Organizations etc.

Bamboos are one of the versatile plant groups with multifarious uses and meet many needs of the society. Bamboo is a viable replacement for wood and industrial raw material for both traditional cottage and modern industrial sectors. The employment potential of bamboo is very high and the major work forces involved are very poor.