By Toki Blah
Reference is made here to the front page news report in ST Oct 3, 2024 captioned “DoNER Ministry mulls common bamboo policy for NE states”. According to this news report Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) has been tasked with coming up with a DPR on the subject to cover (1) a uniform policy framework on the subject (2) value added production proposals for an international market (3) private investments will be encouraged. To those of us who are really worried about the economy of the region, this is most welcome news. Bamboo is common throughout the states of the Northeast. Meghalaya in particular with its different agro climatic zones (The plateau and plain agro-climatic zones of Garo Hills, Ri Bhoi agro-climatic zone, the plateau agro-climatic zone of both Khasi and Jaintia Hills and the agro- climatic zone of the southern slopes of Ri Khasi Jaintia ) is endemic to a variety of bamboo species, whose economic value through value addition is yet to be explored, assessed and appreciated. Most of us and policy makers of the state Government are yet to awaken to the enormous economic potential that this humble grass species can bring to the state and its people. In China , bamboo cultivation and value addition to this agricultural product has earned bamboo the nickname of “Green Gold”. Such is its potential to change the dynamics of a country’s economic trajectory and its people. Meanwhile in Meghalaya we still continue to use it as cheap scaffolding material for the building industry. The contrast in vision cannot be starker than this!
In 2001 a delegation from Meghalaya led by then Finance Minister (L) AH Scott Lyngdoh and comprising of the following ( MLAs AL Hek , Lu Adolf Hitler, PCCF Balvinder Singh, Chief Secretary JP Singh, Principal Secretary PJ Bazely and myself) had gone on a visit to China to specifically study the use of bamboo in that country. I am given to believe that the observations and recommendations of the delegation were prepared by the Forest Department and submitted to the Government of Meghalaya for further action. Well as usual that was the last that was heard of this particular event. Nothing came out of this visit. Now however, in view of the renewed interest of DoNER Ministry on development of bamboo for the NE, I would like to give a short briefing on the observations of the delegation and its belief that bamboo can really be a change maker in the economic fortunes of our people and help lift the state and its people from the abject poverty and unemployment crisis it currently finds itself in.
In China, bamboo cultivation, processing, value addition and marketing of the same is an industrial activity carefully planned, nurtured and managed by the Govt and its Agricultural Ministry as a deliberate policy instrument to develop its rural areas especially its small farmers. Towards this end, the many markets where bamboo is used as raw material were identified, where in turn the finished product can be produced by local entrepreneurs to be finally exported either by Govt agencies or private export houses. Firstly, recognition was given to the fact that value addition to bamboo through the use of modern technology can strengthen the existing traditional handicraft industry and turn its products into attractive export items. Farmers were encouraged to grow pre identified species of bamboo to feed local small cottage enterprises that in turn produce simple export items. The variety of items on this list is expansive and quite surprisingly simple and range from toothpicks, disposable chopsticks, tea coaster sets, table mats, wall hangings, window blinds, hand held fans and plaques and other cheap what-have-you attractive household items. One never realised the export potential of such cheap items to far away places of Europe, Middle East and America, nor the fact that they can easily be locally produced and in the process provide attractive livelihood options for farmers and other rural folks. This helps, unlike in Meghalaya, to retain the rural population in their rural settings. Unnecessary rural migration to urban centers is controlled!
Secondly , the huge capital investments by firms from Japan and Taiwan towards the processing of the humble Bamboo shoot is to be believed. Bamboo shoot processing plants (different varieties of bamboo produce different varieties of edible bamboo shoots) dot the countryside. In a state like Meghalaya where different types of bamboo grow naturally, a deliberate and premeditated policy of the type of bamboo, where to grow it, and the type of shoots it can produce for export can change the entire economy of our rural areas. The market for bamboo shoot products ranges from South East Asia, Australia, Asia and Asia Minor, Africa, the Americas and even right up to the Tundra region. The market for bamboo shoots is so large that supply simply cannot catch up with demand and here lies the key to the success and sustainability of this DoNER proposal. If the Government of India can give assurance of an export market, the cultivation and processing of the product can safely be left to the initiative of the farmers and entrepreneurs themselves. Amidst this huge market bonanza for bamboo shoots , there exists the NE and Meghalaya in it, eager to enter this market and give the sharp upward income rise for our agriculturalists while the supporting processing units can absorb the more educated and skilled labourers of the state.
Thirdly, modern technology has helped turn the humble bamboo into an attractive and cheap building material that big time building contractors run after. In China we saw and a few of us even brought back samples of attractive, well polished and definitely cheaper than wood floor boards. I am told that these have a huge demand, especially in cold countries where people who can’t afford wooden floors for warmth in the winter, have now turned to this cheaper version of floor boards and walling material. In China we came across huge bamboo boards used by builders as shuttering material especially for high rise buildings. (recently I saw some of the same being used in a building under construction in Shillong. So it must no longer be a new item in the construction industry) . The above two items also have a huge demand world wide and Meghalaya can easily join in the race to meet the demands of this exciting new market. I see it as a win-win situation for all and if the state Govt is really serious about its “Blowing in the Wind” 10 million dollar economy, Bamboo development is the area where it needs to invest and concentrate. It’s not only viable but doable!
In conclusion I would request the State Govt to seriously latch on to the proposed DoNER bamboo policy for the region. A core group comprising senior State Government officials and if possible with one senior representative from each of our District Councils should be immediately set up. This core group to be headed by the Planning Department is to closely follow up and interact with DoNER on this issue. The job of this group is to come up with a Meghalaya specific policy framework on how we plan to fit in with the overall bamboo policy of DoNER. We must focus on (a) its employment and income generation potential for our upland farmers and youth. The key factor here is the export market assurance to bamboo products by the Government of India. (b) help identify the specific bamboo related activities and technologies suited for both rural as well as urban youth especially our women (In China the entire line of assembling traditional bamboo handicraft items was handled by its women folk, adding to family incomes while at the same time empowering the rural women) (c) identify the role of our three District Councils as stakeholders in policy implementation of the project so that they can (i) guide our traditional village councils in project coordination especially in the management of private and community lands and forests (ii) use the project to control and manage jhum cultivation as per the mandate of Para 3 of the 6th Schedule. There is absolutely no call for the State Govt to go it alone. For the bamboo mission to succeed it must be participatory in nature with all concerned stakeholders to be involved. Women SHG groups, Village Dorbars, Dorbar Kurs, specific bamboo species groups need to be formed and brought in as stakeholders. Let this be a Bottom Up, People Demand Driven concept where the role of Govt and the ADCs be limited to that of concerned facilitators. A sincere appeal is made here to our so called representatives be it MLAs or MDCs. For once forget your miserable selves. The time for public service has finally arrived. Please don’t fail the common man this time as such an opportunity might never come our way again.