The bamboo resource has a unique livelihood importance among majority of the population in Tripura and has been observed to deplete year by year since last decade. Sacrifice of bamboo patches within and outside the forests for other cash crops is one of the major reasons of depletion. The recent flowering phenomenon in few dominant species provided a space for the communities to expand and encroach by planting crops particularly rubber. Looking into the depletion of bamboo and popularity of alternate plantations, a huge effort for restoration of bamboo patches in the state is of great demand today. In view of above scenario, the efforts on restoration through conservation, propagation and afforestation need mobilization of the communities for their awareness and participation in all aspects. In spite of difficulties faced due to lack of bamboo resource, the communities need to be convinced for clump management for sustainable production and nursery management for propagation. Organizing field demonstrations frequently and liaison meetings with buyer agencies were helpful to make them willing to establish small scale nurseries in participatory mode. This presentation deals with success of the farmers’ bamboo nurseries and change in their attitude towards promotion of bamboo on farmlands besides generating income by contributing planting stock to the state owned programs in coming years.

1. Community approach towards Restoration
of Bamboo Resources in Tripura
CENTRE FOR FOREST-BASED LIVELIHOOD & EXTENSION
SHAL BAGAN FOREST CAMPUS, P O – GANDHIGRAM, AGARTALA - 799012,
TRIPURA
Pawan K Kaushik

2. Booming Bamboo Based Economy
Growth trend & future of bamboo sector in Tripura
From the turnover of Rs. 27.9 Crores in FY 2006 the sector has grown by over 240% to
a total turnover of Rs. 93.05 crores as on 31st March, 2011.
Source: Tripura Bamboo Mission

3. Demand Supply Mismatch
Current Consumption of Bamboo:
2,70,000 MT (2011-12)
Incense Sector : 90,000 MT
Handicrafts and Furniture : 80,000 MT
Domestic Consumption : 1,00,000 MT
Projected Consumption of Bamboo by 2014:
3,74,000 MT
Bamboo Park : 60,000 MT
Existing Commercial and Domestic:
3,14,000 MT
Gap between D-S by next year - 87,000 MT
Area to be planted - 8680 ha
Plants required - 40 lakhs
Source: Tripura Bamboo Mission

4. Need For Species Diversification in Tripura
Plantations till date in the state
Financial Year Muli
Plantations (ha)
Non-Muli
plantations
(ha)
Total
Plantations
% of Non-Muli
against Muli
plantations
2005-06 3091.41 0.0 3091.41 0
2006-07 1207.45 335.8 1543.25 27.81
2007-08 5200.37 704.8 5905.17 13.55
2008-09 4805.99 748.4 5554.39 15.57
2009-10 4787.7 207.0 4994.7 4.32
2010-11 6403.92 625.25 7029.23 9.76
2011-12 7270.11 357.07 7627.18 4.91
Total 32674.01 2978.22 35745.23
91.66% 8.44% 100%
Source: Tripura Bamboo Mission

5. Tripura scenario
Recognition and vesting of Forest Rights
 Total forest land in Tripura: 6293 sq km
 Patta to Traditional Forest Dwellers: 1.20 lakh Households
 Forest area vested: 1760 sq km
 About 28 % of forestland
 Highest percentage in the country
 Land use promoted in forestland so vested :
 Paddy cultivation for achieving self-sufficiency over at least 10%
 Horticulture intercropping over 20% & Creation of water bodies for fishery
 Rest for bamboo and other plantations

6. Rubber Plantations Replacing Forests

7. Juvenile Teak Plantation Replaced by Rubber

8. Steep fall in revenue from bamboo in 2012-13
Year Timber Bamboo
2004-05 122 121
2005-06 142 155
2006-07 188 160
2007-08 178 142
2008-09 178 212
2009-10 206 224
2010-11 209 228
2011-12 198 232
2012-13 189 63
Forest Revenue for Timber & Bamboo Rs./lakh
0
50
100
150
200
250
Revenue
from
bamboo
Rs./Lakh
Source: Forest Department, Tripura

9. Sharp Decline in Bamboo Stick Production for
Agarbatti sticks in Tripura
Year Bamboo stick production in MT
2009-10 28589
2010-11 23178
2011-12 21393
2012-13
17490 (reduced to 60 %
within last 4 years)

10. Muli bamboo
Market price in
Rupees of one
Muli at Nalchhar
2008: 5-8
2009: 10-15
2010: 20-25
2011: 20-30
2012: 25-40; and
2013: 30-50
Sale price increased by > 5 times within last 5 years

11. 1st Meeting : Results of SWOT Analysis on
taking up Bamboo Nurseries -
Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities Threats
Suitable Site
Condition
Lack of availability of
plant material
High
demanding for
domestic
purpose
No proper market
Highly
dependable
Lack of awareness Increased sale
value
Less profitable than other
commercial crop
Variety of Species
can be grown
Transportation and
marketing problem
High market
demand
T. P. will be required in
transport.
No buy back
guarantee
Bamboo plant will flower
and will die at a time
Low income People are not in Bamboo
based cottage industry
Termite attack

12. 2nd Meeting : Results of SWOT Analysis on taking up Bamboo
Nurseries -
Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities Threats
Suitable Site
Condition
Transportation and
marketing problem
High demanding for
domestic purpose
Termite attack at
nursery stage
Highly dependable No buy back
guarantee
Increase sell value Sporadic and
gregarious flowering
of Bamboo
Variety of Species
can be grown
Hard work and less
income generation
High market
demand
New Industries are
coming up
Prospect of new
industry
Market for raw
Incense sticks
Promotion of new
products
Govt. is providing
quality planting
material
Bamboo handicrafts
are exported outside
of the state.

13. Training and Demonstration

14. 3rd Meeting : Results of SWOT Analysis on taking up Bamboo
Nurseries -
Strengths Weaknesse
s
Opportunities Threats
Edible shoots Bamboo
Flowering
Industries are looking for good quality
Bamboo
Unreliable
plant
material
Versatile uses Transit pass is relaxed within the local
area
High Industrial
demand
Quality planting materials are available
culms suitable for
construction
Bamboo treatment techniques are
available
Cottage Industry Selling nursery seedlings
Export Facility Demands for making Bamboo furniture
Mother stock of different plant
materials are available

16. Muli Bamboo – 2013 Zero Year Collection of
19 - Bamboo Species

17. Bambusa tulda (Mirtinga)
Schizostachyum dullooa (Dolu)
Dendrocalamus longispathus (Rupai )
Bambusa pallida (Makal)
Bambusa nutan (Kai)
Bambusa straita (Tiger)
Bambusa wamin (Buddha Bailey)
Guadua angustifolia (Guadua)
Bambusa vulgaris (Bari)
Dandrocalamus hamiltoni (Pecha)
Thyrsostachys oliveri (Kanakaich)
Bambusa multiplex (Nana)
Bambusa japonica
Bambusa balcooa (Barak)
Melocana baccifera (Muli)
Bambusa polymorpha (Paura)
Bambusa cacharensis (Bom)
Dendrocalamus sikkimensis (Rawmi)
D. giganteus
(Giant Bamboo)
Bamboos Species under multiplication

18. INTRODUCING
CONCEPT OF CLNs
(Community Livelihood Nurseries)
The Nurseries –
raised with participatory approach by a Community
to help them earn livelihood
besides
contributing for plant materials required under programs
on restoration of forest-based livelihood resources

19. CLNs – Setting of Participatory Objectives:
• Promotion of public participation in potential production
of planting material in terms of quantity, reliability and
diversity.
• Providing income generation option besides meeting
demand of plant material of the state as well as
individual’s requirement.
• Restoration of natural resource based livelihoods in the
state.

20. Community Approach Mechanism
• Identification of prospective farmers
• Hands on training on bamboo nursery techniques, field
demonstration
- Propagation through vegetative cuttings
- Macro-proliferation techniques
• Involved local youth groups for execution and monitoring
• Initially, prepared 3 to 5 beds (annual capacity 2000 – 5000 plants)
• Primary material support – Mother plants, chemicals for soil
treatment, Low-cost Vermicomposting Units
• Regular technical support
• 1000 polybags to facilitate sale of plants and generate initial income
• Institutional support to develop market linkages
• Regular participatory monitoring
• Maintenance of records for certification while selling to the
agencies.

21. Advantages of CLNs:
• Avoid huge investment in infrastructure and manpower as in case of
Centralized Nurseries.
• Reduced transportation cost
• Avoid shock to the plants by minimizing transition time when
planted within same climatic conditions.
• Ensure public participation and awareness and thus, may develop
social barriers to protect plantations.
• Individual’s requirements may be fulfilled from their own or nearest
nurseries, and thus damage to the adjacent plantations from biotic
interferences may be minimized.
• The participatory mechanism so developed may become an asset to
the state for handling mega programs and related challenges in
future.

22. Sl. No. Villages No.
1. Nalchar, Melaghar 18
2. North Taibandal, Anandpur 8
3. Bodhjungnagar,Kamalghat 18
4. Naogaon, Bamotia, Taltala 35
Total 79
Status of
Community Livelihood Nurseries (CLNs)
Under CFLE Agartala
As on – December, 2013

23. SL.N
o
Name of Species Stock as on
31/07/13
23. Homalomena aromatica
(Gandhaki)
4511 Nos.
1. Bambusa tulda
(Mirtinga)
2762 Nos. 24. Cajanus cajan (L) Mill
(Arhar)
2000 Nos.
2. Dendrocalamus
longispathus (Rupai )
2250 Nos. 25. Flemingia macrophylla (willd) prain
exMerr (Flemingia)
2000 Nos.
3. Bambusa pallida
(Makal)
2400 Nos. 26. Terminalia bellirica Roxb.
(Bahera)
3068 Nos.
4. Bambusa nutan
(Kali)
830 Nos. 27. Dillenia indica Linn. (Chalta) 1880 Nos.
5. Bambusa straita (Tiger) 140 Nos. 28. Clittoria ternatea, Linn.
(Aparajita)
530 Nos.
6. Bambusa wamin
(Buddha Balley)
130 Nos. 29. Abelmoscus moschatus
(Kasturi bindi)
150 Nos.
7. Guadua angustifolia
(Guadua)
245 Nos. 30. Terminalia arjuna (Arjun) 80 Nos.
8. Bambusa vulgaris(Bari) 713 Nos. 31. A.marmelos (Bael) 21 Nos.
9. Dandrocalamus hamiltoni
(Pecha)
14610 Nos. 32. Oroxylum indicum (Kanaidinga) 150 Nos.
10. Thyrsostachys oliveri
(Kanakaich)
450 Nos. 33. Clinogyne dichotoma (Mutrak) 112 Nos.
11. Bambusa multiplex
(Nana)
90 Nos. 34. Melia dubia
(baken)
760 Nos.
12. Bambusa javanica 36 Nos. 35. Mucuna pruriens 161 Nos.
13. Bambusa balcooa
(Barak)
80 Nos. 36. Acacia nilotica (babul) 112 Nos.
Nursery Stock as December 2014
)

24. 14. Melocana baccifera
(Muli)
2217 Nos. 37. Thysanolaena maxima
(Broom grass)
180 Nos.
15. Bambusa polymorpha
(Paura)
230 Nos. 38. Citronella 83 Nos.
16. Bambusa cacharensis
(Bom)
67 Nos. 39. Acorus calamus
(Bach)
48 Nos.
17. Schizostachyum dullooa
(Dullooa)
264 Nos. 40. Basak plant 14 Nos.
18. Dendrocalamus
giganteus (Rawpui)
03 Nos. 41. Toko palm 22 Nos.
19. Bambusa bamboos
(Kanta Bans)
03 Nos. 42. Canes (6 species) 50 Nos.
20. Dendrocalamus
sikkimensis (Rawmi)
03 Nos. 44. Areca catechu 04 Nos.
Total Bamboo plants = 27614 Nos. 45. Parkia roxburghii 04 Nos.
21. Capsicum chinensis
(Naga Chilli)
410 Nos. Total = 16505 Nos.

26. Demonstration of
Boucherie Apparatus
to SHGs
Radha Krishna SHG, Borjush
Bamutia Village Cluster, Tripura

27. Demonstration and Opening
of ‘Neermahal Bamboo
Treatment Demo Centre’
June 30, 2013
Demo Village –
Khas Chawmoni
Melaghar Cluster, Tripura

28. Introducing Guadua Bamboo in Tripura
Current Efforts and Future Prospects
The species is performing well in Tripura conditions.
Also respond to sphagnum based air layering (Paper published @ Indian
Forester)
Tulakona Plantation
Agartala
known as timber
bamboo
Narsingh Garh
Nursery, Agartala

29. Conclusion
Restoration of community based approach has been much
effective so far.
Important to consider other issues of concern
- Species preference
- Certified mother stock
- Propagation and Nursery – Technical Knowhow
- Proper species tagging
- Developing linkages with buyer agencies
- Assurance of income generation (disposal of plants)
•Livelihood generation
•Restoration of Bamboo Resources