Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
of scientific knowledge and awareness of its potential Bamboos versatility
and unique characteristics provide communities with options to diversify
their economies and decrease their sensitivity to climate change. Increas-
ing the cultivation and use of bamboos will help enable rural and urban
populations adapt to the effects of climate change. Bamboos are relatively
easy to grow and can provide additional food, energy and income security
to the rural poor, as well as a range of environmental services and uses
in their growing and harvested forms. Bamboo products such as houses
and charcoal, can contribute to the livelihood resilience of rural and urban
dwellers.
14.2
AREA AND PRODUCTION OF BAMBOO
When we look at 'Bamboo' also known as 'Green Gold' in the Asian cul-
ture, it is a symbol of friendship in India; while bamboo's long life makes
it a Chinese symbol of longevity.
Several diseases can be cured using bamboo as traditional medicine.
Ayurveda describes that bamboo manna; scientifically the siliceous con-
cretion can be used as a healthy tonic to cure diseases. In addition to its
health benefits, the bamboo growing could be a prosperous business gen-
erating good income for several parts of the world including India. The
bamboo covers about 20 million hectares of the world and the bamboo
market is to be jumped to US $ 20 billion by 2015 from US $ 10 billion
at present. In India, it covers about 12.8% of the total forest of India con-
sisting of 130 MT having an annual harvest of 13.47 million tons. The
current market of bamboo/ bamboo products in India is estimated to be
Rs.4500 crores, which is expected to increase to Rs.20,000 crores by 2015
with major contribution from wood substitute, processed bamboo shoots,
industrial products (activated charcoal, etc.) and Structural applications
segments. The employment potential of bamboo is very high and the ma-
jor work force constitutes of the rural poor, especially women and 432
million workdays per annum are provided by the bamboo sector in India.
Rapid increase in the demand of bamboos in the industrial sector coupled
with increase in domestic demand due torising population have caused de-
pletion of the natural bamboo resources which calls for concerted efforts
for the awareness to raise bamboo plantations in land hitherto barren, de-
graded or in association with agriculture crops. With the trend of decrease
