World Bamboo Day

World Bamboo Day

Context: Recently, World Bamboo Day [18th September 2020] was celebrated. This year theme was "Bamboo Now"
Key Facts about Bamboo

Bamboos are fast-growing and tallest grass on earth.
Bamboos can be found in tropical, subtropical and mild temperate regions. However, the East and Southeast Asia are the regions where the heaviest and largest number of species of Bamboo are found.
Bamboos can survive a wide range of climatic conditions i.e. from 5 degree Celsius to even 30 degrees Celsius. It can also survive varying rainfall conditions. Altitude wise, bamboo can grow at sea level to heights of about 4,000 metres.

Importance of Bamboo shoots

Bamboo shoots are emerging as high-value and safe edibles and growing in utility globally along with all other value-added bamboo products.
The protein content in fresh bamboo shoots, considered as a nutraceutical. The term ‘nutraceutical’ is used to describe medicinally or nutritionally functional foods.
They also contain 17 amino acids, eight of which are essential for the human body.

Applications

Consumed as food in many East and Southeast Asian cuisines.
Fibres can be pulped and used to manufacture paper.
Stems can be used as scaffoldings at building construction sites. Additionally, stems can be split and used to make buckets, pipes, furniture etc.
According to scientists, fresh bamboos shoots can be used as nutraceutical as it has 8 of the 17 amino acids essential for human beings.
Bamboo has also been used as an ingredient in antimicrobial soaps and hand mists.

Statistics

World`s Bamboo production is more than 3 million tonnes and the global market is valued at around $1,700 million. As per the International Network for Bamboo and Rattan (INBAR), China exports 68% of the world’s bamboo and rattan products.
India produces 14.6 million tonnes of bamboo every year and as of 2017, the bamboo-rattan industry is worth Rs 28,005 crores. Bamboo shoot production and consumption are largely limited to north-eastern States.

Measures taken by the Government to promote Bamboo

Government of India amended the Indian Forest Act and delisting Bamboo as trees under the act. The delisting is expected to enhance livelihood opportunities through bamboo.
The Central Government raised the import duty by 25 per cent on raw bamboo items in order to boost and help domestic bamboo industries like furniture, handicrafts and Agarbatti.
Three Bamboo Clusters will be developed in the Jammu region. So as to provide direct employment opportunities to about 25,000 people in the vicinity.
A Mega Bamboo Industrial Park near Jammu and Bamboo Technology Training Centre is also being planned.
The restructured National Bamboo Mission was approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) on 25-04-2018.

Road Ahead

India needs to promote Bamboo Shoots as a super-food. It will help in alleviation of malnutrition and hunger.
Value-addition in Bamboo shoots which enhances storage and diversification in new-age food products like vegetable protein concentrates can enhance its market potential and consumer acceptability.
States need to take forward the objectives of the National Bamboo Mission which would contribute to the Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan through Aatmanirbhar Krishi (self-reliant farming).