BAMBOO BASED EXPORT ORIENTED RURAL INDUSTRIALIZATION : A REPORT ON VISIT TO CHINA

摘要

The author was sent to China by DST, Govt. of India, for a fortnight to participate in "International Training Workshop on Bomboo handicraft techniques, its tools and Small machines'. Total 45 trainees from 15 countries other than China participated, and were jointly organized by Ministry of Science & Technology (MOST), The Peoples' Republic of China, International Society of Bamboo & Rattan (INBAR), International Farm Forestry Training Centre (INFORTRACE) and Chinese Academy of Forest (CAF). Prof. Zhu Zhaoua, Director of INFORTRACE and Honourable Life Member of INBAR led the training, spread over a number of districts of Zhejiang and Sichuan provinces. Farmland was increased in China during fifties by deforestation for making up agricultural shortage. Problem of soil erosion was evident soon. Rate of agricultural output increased around early eighties, and policy of reforestation of less fertile lands was taken. Decision was to use bamboo for reforestation, and to utilize bamboo for rehabilitation of jobless farmers. Unlike other useful timber that takes 20 to 25 years to grow, bamboo creates forest cover within 3 years. Science & Technology (S & T) was used as a key to maximize wealth out of bamboo essentially since 1990.