Bamboo Tissue Culture Plant, For Agriculture

The Bamboo is among the commercially cultivated crops in India, and is also considered as the ‘Poor man’s timber’. India is the second largest producer of Bamboo in the world after China. The annual production in the country is estimated at around 3.23 million tons.The north-eastern states have the most bamboo plantations in India.

The Bamboos are evergreen perennial flowering plants in the subfamily Bambusoideae of the grass family Poaceae. There are about 1,200 species of Bamboo, of which 136 are indigenous to India.

Bamboo typically grows well in hot to warm temperate climates, where temperatures don’t fall below 15 degree Celsius in the summers. Due to having thin and shallow roots, Bamboos must be sheltered from strong winds.

A Bamboo Nursery can grow in a variety of soils except rock-strewn soils. Bamboos also require well drained sandy soil or clay soil, having a pH range of 4.5 to 6.0. 

The Barack Valley region in Assam is best suited for Bamboo Plantation in India due to best soil and perfect climate.

The Indian government is keen on promoting bamboo cultivation. On November 23, it issued an ordinance to categorise cultivated bamboo as non-forest produce that can be transported without transit permits. Maharashtra has also shown interest towards this cause. It is interested in promoting bamboo as a source of income for farmers. In August last year, it created the Maharashtra Bamboo Development Board (MBDB) for this purpose. In India a large area is under Bamboo cultivation—11.4 million hectares, says TSK Reddy, the MBDB’s managing director.