Bamboo Facts

Some amazing facts about bamboo

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The World of Bamboo

  • The importance of Bamboo as an eco-friendly raw material capable of meeting multifarious needs of people is gaining global acceptance.
  • From a raw material known as the "poor man's timber," bamboo is currently being elevated to the status of "the timber of the 21st century."
  • Bamboo's applications are varied, including:
    • Environment protection
    • Nutrient food
    • High-value construction material
    • About 1,500 other listed applications
  • Experts believe the full potential of bamboo remains untapped.
  • Bamboo played a dominant role in agrarian economies of the East during the middle ages, fell into oblivion in the 19th and 20th centuries, and is now re-emerging as a sought-after material in the 21st century.
  • Approximately 2.5 billion people globally use bamboo in some form.
  • The annual turnover of bamboo is estimated at around USD $10 billion (Rs. 50,000 crores) and is projected to rise to USD $20 billion.
  • Advanced research is being conducted to utilize bamboo for efficient fuel generation systems.
  • International networks like the International Network for Bamboo and Rattan (INBAR) are promoting bamboo globally, with India as a signatory.
  • Primary processing and product manufacturing of bamboo are shifting to highly mechanized modes at the global level.
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Bamboo In India

  • In India, 136 species of bamboos in 36 genera are found to exist.
  • The North East India holds the largest stock and diversity of bamboos.
  • The Western Ghats area has the second largest diversity of bamboos.
  • India has the largest area under bamboo, estimated around 9.6 million hectares, but the yield per hectare is approximately 0.4 tonnes, which is very low compared to countries like China, Malaysia, and Costa Rica.
  • It is estimated that 8 million bamboo artisans depend on this craft for their livelihood.
  • The annual turnover of the bamboo sector in India is estimated to be around Rs. 2400 crores.
  • This sector is largely unorganized, and bamboo has traditionally been considered either for craft purposes or pulp making.
  • The craft has been practiced by the North Eastern States for centuries as their primary income source.
  • The weaving skills of artisans in the North East have evolved to levels comparable with craftspersons from affluent societies like Japan and China, though product diversity remains underdeveloped.