Bamboo in Orissa: Trade and Livelihood Perspective - Vasundhara

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While flowered clumps are seen as potential source of fire hazards, some ecologists say
that through proper harvesting practices and fire management measures, this problem is to
be solved instead of mass clear felling, because dead bamboo serves as a barrier, protecting
young shoots(Gubbi, op.cit., p.33).
Paper mills do not prefer flowered culms because the latter’s dryness causes problems
while processing. The long-fibre structure of green culms is weakened in such culms.
However, flowered culms have reportedly been sent to paper mills alongwith the good
culms because in large scale harvesting operations such kind of things can hardly be
avoided by the mills. It is interesting to note that OFDC had this condition that the paper
industries would be bound to accept flowered bamboo in case of gregarious flowering, and
that too, without any concession in price.
In fact, experienced persons like Dilip Kumar Pradhan, who worked as Coupe In-charge in
Chowdwar paper mill, say that flowered culms retain their strength for two to three years,
and hence can be used not only in paper industries but also for construction purposes.
According to Yogesh Chandra Pradhan, who worked as Circle In-charge in the same
company, flowering is quite beneficial for the lease-holder because silvicultural restrictions
are not applicable to such clumps, and these are to be totally clear-felled irrespective of the
size and age of the culms therein; so the lease-holder gets an opportunity to increase his
production (per comm.). And dead and flowered culms have satisfactory performance as a
raw material in paper industry, provided they are not damaged by insects (CSIR 2003,
Wealth of India, Vol.III, p.34).
Even if flowered culms have no takers, or get burnt by fire; the scope of their commercial
use is still there in the form of charcoal because bamboo charcoal is very much preferred
for several applications, more commonly for use by goldsmiths.
Recommendations:
• A comprehensive policy on bamboo is necessary to address the trade and livelihood
issues related to bamboo.
• Stand on the stake of protecting communities on the local bamboo resources in JFM
areas should be very clear, and it should be ensured that besides getting maximum
share in the harvest(bamboo), the protecting communities should also get the first
chance to work as bamboo cutters in their area.
• Since ensuring an alternate market for bamboo is necessary, the government should
explore possibilities of taking advantage of the huge potential in the non-industrial
sector(like, construction,etc.).
• Establishment cost should be minimized so as to compete with the private suppliers
of the state so far the price of industrial- as well as commercial bamboo is
concerned. Potential in the betel farming should be properly utilized.
• Single window system should be introduced for effective production and marketing
of bamboo. The Andhra system has been quite beneficial not only for the traders of
Orissa, but also for the Govt of Andhra Pradesh; and systems like this should be
considered for implementation here.
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