The Bamboo and Rattan Sectors in Asia: an Analysis of ... - INBAR

The Basods could also benefit from assistance to improve the quality of their
products. The current processing technologies are rudimentary and labor-intensive.
This may be appropriate under conditions of surplus labor. However, with some simple
technologies to assist in operations such as splitting and slivering, some of the tedious
work could be reduced (releasing labor for higher value-added tasks) and the
quality consistency of the products could be increased. Improved designs and
finishing might also help to extend the market for products to large urban areas.
There is great scope for increasing employment and income generating
opportunities by enhancing the value of the products through improved quality
and, especially, through expanding the market.
Similarly, safe, effective, low-cost bamboo preservation technology could pay
large dividends in terms of reduced bamboo consumption by Pan barejas.
The Bamboo Economy of Kerala, India: An Analysis of the Productionto-Consumption
System 11
Introduction
Bamboo is used in Kerala State in a variety of household applications, as a raw
material for mat weaving enterprises and as a main raw material for the pulp and
paper industry. Mat weaving began as a traditional craft for household use and for
local trade. Beginning in the 1930s bamboo-based products began to find wider
markets. Then, during World War II, the demand increased considerably, resulting in
significant structural changes. Wage laborers were employed, including many from
non-traditional weaving communities, and the processing centers shifted from forest
to more centralized urban locations. There are currently 17 000 registered weaver
households in the state. In the study site, the Angamaly township, there are 15 000
of these weaver families.
Bamboo is grown both in forest lands owned by the state (all bamboo lands
were nationalized by the state government in May 1971), on private agricultural
lands and in home gardens. Accurate estimates of production and consumption are
not available. Krishnankutty et al. (1995) estimated total demand for 1993-94 at around
169 000 tons. However, this estimate ignores most of the trade in reed bamboo
(Ochlandra spp.) the mainstay of the mats and weaving industries, and fails to account
for a very large illegal trade.
This study focused on the institutional aspects of the bamboo PCS. This case
provides an interesting example of the impact of a government cooperative that was
designed to displace exploitative intermediaries.
11 By P.M. Mathew (Institute of Small Enterprises and Development, Cochin, Kerala, India).
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