Experiences on Integrated Mountain Development with Bamboo in Himalayas

S.T.S. Lepcha, IFS (Retd.)India

• Himalayas formed after the collision between Indo-Australian and Eurasian plate about 50Million years ago.

• Himalayas are still growing by 1 cm per year • Himalayas run 2400 Km by length, 150 Km-350 Km breath• Also called the Third Pole • Mostly metamorphic and sedimentary rocks

Origin Of Himalayas

• Consist of 11 States ( Hill districts of Assam & Bengal and 2 Union Territories

• Young Mountains • Mountains are diverse/difficult/risk

prone. • Mountain Perspective Planning/Harmony

with nature • Maintain Flow of Environment Services

Indian Himalayan Region (IHR)

• North-East Monsoon • South-West Monsson • Bamboos growth influenced by Monsson • Total around about 99 Species of Bamboo

Climate of Indian Himalayan Region (IHR)

• Higher Himalayas- Reed Like Bamboo (Arundinaria Spp.)• Middle Himalayas -Dendrocalamus hamiltoni , Melocana baccifera• Outer Himalayas- Dendrocalamus strictus, Bambu tulda• Tarai- Bambusa tulda, Bambusa balcooa• Around 99 species of Bamboo, 80 % species found in North Eastern Himalayas.

Physiographic Advantage of IHR for distribution of Bamboos

• The region has more than 160 linguist dialects.• More than 150 Communities • Subsistence Agriculture • Highly dependent on forests/bamboos • Dependent on food-shelter-infrastructure

Culture of Indian Himalayan Region (IHR)

Bamboo Bridges

Bamboo Shoots

Bamboo Houses

Apatani Tribes Bamboo Centric Agriculture • Higher altitude –blue pine forests • Bamboo gardens • High mountain rice cultivation with fish

• Melocanna baccifera• Dendrocalamus hamiltonii• Primary bamboo species

Shifting Cultivation

Bamboo poles Mat weaving Incense Sticks Handicraft & Furniture

Pre-Industrial Bamboo Industry

Bamboo Housing

Industrial Bamboo

Bamboo Boards

Bamboo & Monal Pheasant

Bamboo & Eco-tourism

Bamboo & Musk Deer/Snow Leopard habitat

Bamboo & Eco-tourism

Bamboo & Elephant habitat Bamboo & Tiger Habitat

Suggested Strategies for Non Bamboo Growing Areas

Introduction of Bamboo development in Western Himalayas

Resource development & Ecological conservation:

PlantationCommunity Awareness Generation

Infrastructure development:Innovative product design, tools

& technology research;Bamboo housing

Rural enterprise development:Handicraft diversificationTraining for skill up-gradationMarketing and handholding for rural producers and small entrepreneurs

Bamboo based Enterprise DevelopmentDecentralised and centralized productionSupply-Chian

NetworkingKnowledge management for extension with other agencies

Resource Development and Ecological Rebuilding• Ensuring supply of quality planting material

• Centralized nurseries – 15 Nos• Women/Farmer nurseries and Rhizome banks – 15 Nos• 1 Million Plant Production capacity per year

• Resource Development : Over 20000 hectares planted

• Ecological value• Sustenance value• Commercial Value

Awareness and Sensitization- Stigma attached with bamboo growing

• Campaigns through Electronic and Folk media• Workshops & Exposure visits.• One Stop Centers & Demonstrations.• Village level MeetingsReached to about 40, 000 households

Training and Capacity Building

• Trained / Capacitated over 3700 artisans on handicrafts, furniture, housing, nursery and plantation techniques, enterprise development, institution devt, etc

• Intensive training for master trainers – 140 Nos(function as resource person for DRDA, IFAD, KVIB and other programs)

Enterprise Development -CFC

Institutions: Groups, Cooperatives, Federation and Companies

Marketing and Promotion

• Has market outlet • Linkages with state Eco-Tourism Parks / Tourism Department for

Souvenir• Branding• Participation in major trade fairs / National and international

exhibition • Organizing Bamboo and Natural Fiber product expositions to

showcase the products and develop linkages• Repeat Orders from Customers

National Bamboo Mission Restructured National Bamboo Mission approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) on 25-04-2018.

1. To increase the area under bamboo plantation in non forest Government and private lands to supplement farm income and contribute towards resilience to climate change as well as availability of quality raw material requirement of industries. The bamboo plantations will be promoted predominantly in farmers’ fields, homesteads, community lands, arable wastelands, and along irrigation canals, water bodies etc.

2. To improve post-harvest management through establishment of innovative primary processing units near the source of production, primary treatment and seasoning plants, preservation technologies and market infrastructure.

3. To promote product development keeping in view market demand, by assisting R&D, entrepreneurship & business models at micro, small and medium levels and feed bigger industry.

4. To rejuvenate the under developed bamboo industry in India.

5. To promote skill development, capacity building, awareness generation for development of bamboo sector from production to market demand.

6. To realign efforts so as to reduce dependency on import of bamboo and bamboo products by way of improved productivity and suitability of domestic raw material for industry, so as to enhance income of the primary producers.

OBJECTIVE

Thank You

Experiences on Integrated Mountain Development with Bamboo in Himalayas Slide Number 2Slide Number 3Slide Number 4Slide Number 5Slide Number 6Slide Number 7Slide Number 8Slide Number 9Slide Number 10Slide Number 11Slide Number 12Slide Number 13Slide Number 14Slide Number 15Slide Number 16Slide Number 17Enterprise Development - CFCInstitutions: Groups, Cooperatives, Federation and Companies Marketing and PromotionSlide Number 21Slide Number 22