Mizoram


NMBA activities in Mizoram (click)

Mizoram is richly endowed with bamboo forests (6,446 sq. km), covering 31 % of the area (21,087 sq. km) of the State. The growing stock is estimated at 25.3 million tonnes, and the potential availability at 5.8 million tonnes.

Raw bamboo is sold through permits obtained from the Forest Department, and the mahal system. It provides significant revenue for the State. The prevailing permit and mahal systems cover only areas half a mile on both sides of major roads and rivers. Most bamboo resources, especially in remote and inaccessible areas are not covered.

The following species are found in Mizoram:

Jhum cultivation (carried out over an estimated 36,800 hectares of forested land), increased local demand, forest fire, encroachment and growing pressures of population inhibit the growth and stabilisation of bamboo area and yield.

The major issue confronting the State is the flowering of Melaconna bambuisoides. It commenced, on a sporadic scale, largely in the southern part of the State in 2003, and is expected to intensify in 2004 -05, and thereafter decline. The fruits of this specie are large and edible. The sudden and large increase in food availability causes a rapid explosion of the rodent population. The rats feed not only on the seeds, but also on crops and stored foodgrain. 

Bamboo Development Agency (BDA), Mizoram ()

A Bamboo Development Agency (BDA) has been established by the Government of Mizoram, to encourage, start, organise, develop resources, plantation, utilisation and research and development of bamboo. 

NMBA activities in Mizoram:

• Expansion & modernization of existing bamboo ply production facility at Zarkawi, Aizawl by Zonun Mat Ply taken up. The unit began production in January and has entered in to a joint venture operation with Government of Mizoram (GOM) to run the unit smoothly and utilise some of its products in GOM projects. At present the company is operating at a small scale of 40-50 boards of bamboo mats (12 mm thickness) per day and is in the process of installing a press (7 day light-650T) and additional boiler (600 kg) from its own resources for production of bamboo based particle boards. The proposed expansion & modernization plan would induct required bamboo processing machineries and technology for flattened bamboo board and would increase the capacity of production of unit to 250 boards. This will be carried out by induction of primary processing machineries, hydraulic hot press of 1500 tonne (10 daylight) capacity & scissor lift to reach a  capacity of 250 boards (8’x4’x12mm)/ day, which will make the unit viable.
  
• Establishment of a stick and sliver unit being taken up at Bhairabi, Kolasib district, Mizoram - Malsom Engineering. The unit will have the advantage of access to substantial flowering bamboo (Melaconna bambusoides), which will be plentifully and cheaply available in the next few years.