It is high time that bamboo and rattan moves from poor men’s timber category to eco-friendly material: S. Regupathy
INBAR GIVES OPPORTUNITY TO POOR PEOPLE TO PLAY A ROLE IN GLOBAL ECONOMY
Thiru S. Regupathy, Minister of State for Environment and forest said it is high time that bamboo and rattan move from categorization as poor man’s timber to the status of excellent eco friendly and replenishable material. Addressing the 6th session of Council of International Network for Bamboo and Rattan (INBAR) here today, Shri Regupathy said this can be established with modest capital investment as an industry and it will result in large scale environment generation. The Minister said that it is matter of great satisfaction that the member countries are on the righteous path of promoting sustainable development by pooling up their people’s vast traditional knowledge base in bamboos and rattans and aligning this knowledge base with the modern technological advances. However, the more we do the more we realize that umpteen number of things still remain to be done in any field of human activity and this applies to our works in bamboos and rattans also. Bamboos and rattans have a major role to play in the future of humankind’s journey into the next millennium. There are millions of people who depend on bamboo for part or all of their income. In India, about two million traditional bamboo artisans depends almost entirely on the harvesting, processing and selling of bamboo and bamboo products. In China also millions of farmers grow bamboo as a component in integrated farming systems. In other countries though the numbers are smaller, but people depend on it, in whole or in part, for their livelihoods, many of them are economically weaker.
There are several reasons why bamboo is so closely associated with the lives of many poor people. Raw material is widely available at lost cost, it still comes from natural stands and the sale of bamboo generates cash income in otherwise subsistence economies. Agricultural in the process bamboo takes the character of ‘poor man’s timber. Bamboo resources are often treated as ‘free goods’ and are over-exploited. At the same time, certain groups of stakeholders, emphasize retention of subsistence economy nature of bamboos and eschew involvement of large-scale regional and especially international, markets in the sector. Informing about the initiation taken by the Government of India, the Minister said the National Bamboo Mission targets to increase plantations of bamboos among agricultural community. The Government has also implemented policies which include regulations, fiscal incentives and direct investment. The rodent populations because of gregarious flowering of bamboos has been controlled through special schemes, Shri Regupathy added.
Shri P.R. Mohanty, Director General of Forests and Special Secretary to Government and Chairman, 6th Council of INBAR welcomed dignitaries. He said we are here for a common objective and aiming at speedier and sustainable economic growth. Shri Mohanty added that our focus is on areas and people that are disadvantaged due to sectors of remoteness and exclusion. This mammoth challenge is a driving force behind all of us. Shri Mohanty called for very clear role for setting, resource mobilization, innovative power building - both within and outside the network of INBAR. The INBAR Board and its Secretariat are working relentlessly for making the presence of the INBAR felt world over. A number of significant projects have been taken up across the world which include building capacities of the people and entrepreneurs, improving income and quality of life and communities.
Dr. Rodney Cooke, Co-chair of the INBAR board earlier gave details of activities taken by INBAR during last 2 years. He threw light on livelihood improvement created by bamboo plantations which he said is helpful four times more than agricultural crops. He appealed to create awareness about usefulness of bamboo and rattan not only in producing countries but also in consumer countries.
Dr. Jacoba Hoogendoorm, Director General of INBAR said India is one of the founding countries and INBAR looks forward to have research to and innovation work in this country. Talking about specific role of INBAR, she said we are looking forward to combine eco-development and poverty eradication through marketing opportunity with more durable and aesthetic products from bamboo and put them on global market. She also refers to the projects where INBAR is cooperating in Karnataka and North-East region of the country.
Mr. Kamanzi Stanislas, Minister for Natural Resources, Republic of Rwanda, Prof Jiang Zehui, Director General of the INBAR, distinguished delegates representing member countries of the INBAR council, special invitees and observes representing national and international organizations and institutes, senior officers from various Ministries, Institutions and organizations participated in this meeting. 23 member countries attended the meeting.
KP/DT
(Release ID :43680)