Bamboo in Orissa: Trade and Livelihood Perspective - Vasundhara

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All rights reserved by VASUNDHARA(www.vasundharaorissa.org). For any clarification, contact author at sunlit1968@yahoo.co.in Note from the author The study on the trade and livelihood perspective of bamboo in Orissa began in April 2004 with an objective to understand the implications of non-working of bamboo forests in Orissa since 2001-02. During the study however, many other aspects of bamboo-based livelihood were discovered/rediscovered, which facilitated a comprehensive analysis of the situation in the state. We hope that this report will be useful for policy makers, policy analysts, officials of the Forest Department and Orissa Forest Development Corporation, paper mills, non-govt organisations working on this issue, and all other stake-holders. Since discussion on bamboo is often associated with cane/rattan in the international circles, a supplement on cane has also been attached to this report. The author takes this opportunity to express his gratitude to all those who have helped during this study, and shared valuable information. We also welcome constructive suggestions and comments for further improvement of this report. Bikash Rath 1
All rights reserved by VASUNDHARA(www.vasundharaorissa.org). For any clarification, contact author at sunlit1968@yahoo.co.in Executive Summary Bamboo has versatile applications among which use for paper production and housebuilding is important. At production- as well as house-hold processing level, innumerable people belonging to the poor and marginalized sections of the society depend on it for their livelihood either as cutters or artisans. Unfortunately, the policy of the local Government, which has been controlling the production and trade of bamboo as a nationalised product, has been full of many disparities ultimately affecting these poor people. Of late, the Government is making an effort to bring the advantage of the growing demand of bamboo in various sectors, but the concerned scheme seems to be in vein. Lease of bamboo forests for industrial purpose has received priority since preindependence times as this ensures disposal of large lots of production(bamboo) at a time, thereby ensuring massive cash returns. On the other hand, domestic consumption is comparatively irregular, and the cash return from this source also follows the same trend. Still, as a welfare state the Government is never supposed to ignore the needs of the tenants. However, there have been several mismatches observed in this matter. In fact, local communities should have the first right on the sustainable use of local natural resources; and when some body else(state agency or paper industry) tries to supersede them, the situation may get complicated. Harvesting of bamboo by paper mills in community-protected forests has thus become problematic. Bamboo-based traditional cottage industries are very old in the state, but they are not quite promising in several places owing to various factors like availability of substitutes (plastic materials, etc.). Government schemes are helping the bamboo artisans acquire new skills so as to meet the challenges in the demand sector, but local and regular marketing of these new products is difficult. Hence, the schemes are often not supposed to be very successful on a long run. Production of forest bamboo has dwindled in the state particularly after nationalisation in 1988. Unsustainable exploitation of bamboo forests is said to be the major reason behind it. However, after 1999 a different situation emerged when paper mills refused to purchase bamboo from the Government on the plea that the price was not viable, and at the same time harvesting operations had to be suspended owing to the expiry of Working Plans, as per the Supreme Court order. Bamboo requires regular harvesting as per silvicultural principles, and non-harvesting for few continuous years results in unhealthy bamboo clumps which have a risk of facilitating forest fire. Non-harvesting for more than 3 years badly affected the production and quality of forest bamboo in the state, and the cutters who earned their bread from this source were also forced to suffer severely. Finally, harvesting work was resumed in 2005. Flowering of bamboo has been a matter of concern not only for foresters, but for the rural people since many centuries as it is believed to be associated with misfortunes and calamities of various kinds. Flowered culms become virtually useless if not utilised within given time period, but even 'useless' culms can yield useful charcoal. 2
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Bamboo in Orissa: Trade and Livelihood Perspective - Vasundhara

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