abstract - Zomi Online Library

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spite of that, Mizoram harvests 40% of India's 80 million-ton annual bamboo crop. The current state
administration wishes to increase revenue streams from bamboo and aside from uses as a substitute for
timber, there is research underway to utilize bamboo more widely such as using bamboo chippings for paper
mills, bamboo charcoal for fuel, and a type of "bamboo vinegar" which was introduced by Japanese
Scientist Mr. Hitoshi Yokota, and used as a fertilizer.
All the bamboos used in Rakhine State in Burma was extracted mainly from the Paletwas area in
southern Chin State. Besides, several kinds of hardwood, such as Teak(Tectona grandis), Pinkado(Xykua
dolabriformis) etc., and Cinnamon(Cinnamomum) are found in abundance in southern Chin State. (“Union of
Burma: Customs and Culture of Indigenous Peoples - The Chins, p.13/ see Bibliography).
“The pine is not the species Longifolia, but Pinus khassia, and is the best resin-producing tree in the
world; it is found throughout the length and breadth of the hills, generally growing only to a moderate size.
The natives use the tree for planks for building purposes and for torches...It is more than possible that a
resin industry will be successfully worked in the future, as resin is scare in India and commands a high
price, and each year we put less money into the hands of the natives, who, having acquired a taste for
articles of European manufacture, will, when they find that cooly[coolie] work is not obtainable, procure resin
and sell it either to the Forest Officers or to traders in the Upper Chindwin and Pakokku districts.“(Carey and
Tuck, p. 8)
Until today the Chins do not have any say at all in exploiting their own natural resources.
7.3 MINES & MINERALS
Zoram is predominently made of silty shale and sandstone. Limestone and igneous rocks are also found.
The silty shale and limestone are of soft formation. Because of this, roads built on the slopes of the
mountains in Chin State are difficult to maintain. Ngaw Cin Pau, a Chin geologist, named these rocks
“Zoflysch“ because of their similirity to the Flysch rocks of the Alps in Switzerland. Suangdawmual,
Bukpivum, Ngullumual, Leisan, Dawimual and many other small peaks along the the Zoram-Burma border
are built of chromite and nickel bearing ultrabasic rocks. Garnierite, a nickel silicate mineral, was found
there. The nickel content is 1.19 to 4.49 percent.
The present main mineral of Mizoram is a hard rock of Tertiary period formation. This is mainly utilized as
building material and for road construction work. However, several reports (both from Geological Survey of
India and State Geology & Mining Wing of Industries Department) revealed that the availability of minor
mineral in different places.
7.4. HANDLOOMS & HANDICRAFTS
Zo women typically use a hand loom to make clothing and other handicrafts, such as a type of bag called
Pawnpui and blankets. The Mizos rarely did much craft work until the British first came to Mizoram in 1889
when a demand for their crafts was created with this exposure to foreign markets. Currently, the production
of hand looms is also being increased, as the market has been widening within and outside Zoram.
Traditional Zo textiles with old and new designs alike are very popular now - especially with tourists from the
West and Asia. (For more information on this topic see 19.3 TRADITIONAL CHIN/ZO TEXTILES)
7.5. TOURISM
With its abundant scenic beauty and a pleasant climate, Mizoram hopes to develop its tourist-related
industries. Specific tourist projects can be developed to put Mizoram on the "tourist map" of India. With the
development of Reiek resort centre and a number of other resort centres in and around Aizawl, as well as