Our Correspondent
Kohima | December 29
The growing stock of bamboo has been estimated to be around 8.96 million hectares in India, out of which about 5% of the growing stock, consisting of 46 species, is assessed to be available in Nagaland.
The Nagaland Bamboo Development Agency (NBDA) has already taken up scientifically managed plantations in 21, 512 Ha against a target plan of 50,000 Ha.
“Bamboo is an important resource in the socio-economic- ecological- climatic- functional context of Nagaland and the state has taken up a step in the initiatives to harness the potential of bamboo and its benefits,” according to NBDA.
The state bamboo policy was announced on March 15, 2004 with the NBDA established to undertake the programmes and activities of bamboo with the objective to foster ecological security and economic growth through development and utilization of the bamboo resources.
The development of bamboo in Nagaland is taken up in two perspectives. Resource Development: To augment existing resources through development of scientifically managed plantations and regeneration. Enterprise Development: Technology sourcing and dissemination, capacity building and skill upgradation, infrastructural development and marketing initiatives are some areas of focus for enterprise development.
Source said the implementation of the development activities is taken up in a mission mode through the active support of the central government, the state government ad also institutional collaboration both from within the country and abroad.
It aims and objectives read; protection and conservation of rich bio-diversity associated with bamboo forest and bamboo growth areas in the state, sustainable development and utilization of bamboo resources through scientific management, promotion of bamboo plantation (by government, individual and communities) as the key thrust areas for future economy of the state, promotion of bamboo based industries for utilizing the available resources for generating income, revitalization and promotion of local traditional bamboo craft & art with improved technology & design and value addition for export through industrialized mode of production, promotion of bamboo as an essential wood substitute by increasing bamboo production and promotion of bamboo based enterprise in the state in order to reduce pressure on forest, promotion of awareness and understanding of bamboo as “Green Gold” among farmers, traders, industries and the people in the state with a view to utilizing its full potential and the galvanize the rural and industrial economy in the state and effective exploitation of existing mature bamboo before the impending gregarious flowering.
