Kohima , September 22 2009: EVEN AS Nagaland took the lead in the fight against climate change through bamboo at the recently concluded World Bamboo Congress at Bangkok, the state also entered the World Bamboo Map with its bamboo potentials, being the largest producer of bamboo in India.

During the last three years, Nagaland has been able to cultivate the woody grass in about 16,000 hectares of land, which is termed as quite satisfactory seeing the progress and growth of bamboo in the state.

Additional Chief Secretary and Development Commissioner, Alemtemshi Jamir, who is also the project Director of Nagaland Bamboo Mission, said that Nagaland can play a very important role in promoting the bamboo industry in the country as well finding a global market.

"Ever since the state launched the Nagaland Bamboo Mission, the consistent effort of the people in cultivating bamboo has yielded satisfactory results.

The people of the state, especially the farmers are amazed with the success," he added.

He said due to the enthusiasm of the farmers to grow bamboo, combined with an announcement to revive the Paper and Pulp Mill at Tuli, has given a boost to the bamboo sector in the state.

"Planting bamboo in 5000 hectares of land per year is quite substantiated," he added.

On a query about the prospect of valued added goods, he said that there are great prospects of bamboo, a produce which has over 1500 documented uses.

"There is no end to value added capabilities of bamboo," he said.

Stating that Nagaland woke up very late to identify the potentialities of bamboo and declare it as an industry, he said that it was only during 2004-05 the state government realised about the usefulness of bamboo in the state.

He disclosed that Nagaland is leading state in India in terms of bamboo plantation, even though there is alack of technologists and few entrepreneurs deal with bamboo.

The state is currently producing bamboo charcoal, bamboo shoot, bamboo sticks and mats.

He said that the big campaigns need to be launched in the form of seminars and training to equip the entrepreneurs with skills and expertise.

About power generation through bamboo, Alemtemshi said that this is secondary aspect of application, but Nagaland takes the lead in bamboo gasifiers.

He said that a 25kv gasifier has been set up at Nagaland Bamboo and Research Centre and a similar one at Razephema, which is supplying electricity to the villagers.

The Development Commissioner further said that from next year, Nagaland would also celebrate the World Bamboo Day.

Comment