Sikkim plans to exploit bamboo

Sikkim will develop the cultivation of bamboo so that it can be a major commercial crop for the state's farmers, it was decided at a workshop held in Gantok recently to chalk out a formal policy on bamboo cultivation.

Kamesh Salam of the Cane and Bamboo Technology Centre (CBTC) under UNIDO said at the meeting CBTC had submitted a project of Rs 26,000 crore to the government of India for the development of Bamboo in the north-eastern region. A sum of Rs 2,000 crore will be used to develop plantations.

Salam asked the state government to first identify one district for the development of bamboo as a pilot project, concentrating all its resources in that area. Bamboo based industry could turn around the economy of a region.

The workshop was conducted by Cane and Bamboo Technology Centre in collaboration with government of Sikkim and sponsored by North Eastern Council.

The state government has set up a bamboo development agency with representation from the departments of industry, culture, horticulture, forests and science and technology.

The chief secretary of Sikkim, S W Tenzing, pointed out bamboo was integrated into the traditions of the people of the state, who used bamboo and benefited from its utility. But owing to the lack of proper framework, awareness about its economic benefits was low. Besides, it was grown as an unorganised activity.

After its development, bamboo could be the backbone for major handicrafts exports in the form of fine bamboo products. The policy should aim at involving all of society in the development project, he added.

The policy on bamboo would help establish the feasibility and future market of the product. Citizen groups, NGO's and the panchayats would be involved in the project.

P P Poudyal, executive chairman of the Bamboo and Rattan Society of Nepal, said Sikkim had 53 species of bamboo with different qualities.

Bamboo was abundant in Sikkim and extensively used by handicraft workers.

A proposal worth Rs 4 crore had been submitted to the North Eastern Council recently for development of bamboo-based activity and it had been approved.

A sum of Rs 25 lakhs had been sanctioned by NEC for development of bamboo plantations.