Exploring potentials of bamboo development in NE

Eastern Mirror Desk
Dimapur, Sep. 18: Often wrongly given the epithet ‘poor man’s timber’ in the past but now treated as one of the most resourceful plants, a two day mega celebration of the ‘World Bamboo Day’ began at Aizawl in Mizoram on September 18 with the participation of eight Northeastern states. This day is particularly set aside to realise on the potentials of bamboo, create awareness on its benefits, and to promote its use in everyday products.

Officials of the Nagaland Bamboo Development Agency (NBDA) led by its chairman Visasolie Lhoungu along with Team Leader Imtirenla Jamir, team members and two artisans are also attending the said programme.

NBDA team member, Tolto Metha, told Eastern Mirror that experts from across the country have addressed issues pertaining to the challenges of bamboo development. He added that ‘potentials of bamboo development’ and ways to achieve them were discussed during the programme.

In 2017, Government of Nagaland hosted the programme. This year’s World Bamboo Day is being hosted by the Government of Mizoram on the theme ‘My Bamboo My Wealth.’ Metha said the chief minister of Mizoram Lal Thanhawla was the chief guest of the day. The two-day programme would conclude on September 19. The programme is being funded by the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region.

According to the India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2017 of the Forest Survey of India, the Nagaland state bamboo bearing area (sq km) is 6, 025 which has increased up to 1123 sq km comparing to the previous report (2011) of 4902 sq km.

In the same report, Madhya Pradesh topped the list by bearing bamboo at 18, 167 sq km, while Haryana remained at the bottom with 22 sq km. In the Northeast region, Mizoram recorded as the highest in negative growth in the country with -5978 sq km. Arunachal Pradesh made it to top three in the country with an area of 15, 125 after Maharashtra (15, 927).

According to the Nagaland Bamboo Development Agency’s (NBDA) action plan of 2018-2019 which was submitted to the National Bamboo Mission, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, there are 46 bamboo species in the Nagaland at the moment. The agency also generated employment opportunities and created direct employment to 273 people in various categories.