Value chain analysis of bamboo in North Eastern Region of India
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Date
2022-09
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College of Post Graduate Studies in Agricultural Sciences, Central Agricultural University - Imphal
Abstract
Bamboo is a naturally distributed evergreen perennial flowering plant belonging to the grass family Poaceae (Li and He, 2019).Trading in value-added products of bamboo has the potential to make positive contribution to the global environment and economy. The North Eastern Region (NER) of India along with West Bengal contributes half of the bamboo area of the country and bamboo craft has been practiced in NER for centuries as their prime livelihood and income source. For realizing bamboo’s full potential as a driver of environmental sustainability and inclusive economic growth, a fundamental shift in the current system is required. It has become necessary to examine the markets in terms of value addition, involvement of actors and quality requirements. Therefore, the study was carried out with the specific objectives (i) to study the utilization pattern of bamboo (ii) mapping of value chain actors in bamboo and its products (iii) estimation of compliance cost, investment and return involved in value chain of bamboo (iv) to assess the impact of value chain of bamboo on livelihood and income of different stakeholders in the state of Assam and Meghalaya. The study was conducted with primary data from Assam in Barpeta and Nalbari district with a total respondent of 130 and 150 respectively, and in Meghalaya, a total of 53 and 47 respondents were selected from East Khasi Hills and Ri- Bhoi district, respectively. To fulfil the above objectives, utilization of bamboo was classified into five categories; value chain map was prepared with identification of actors involved. The compliance cost, marketing margin, price spread, percentage change, Lorenz curve and Gini coefficient were estimated for the stakeholders. The results showed that the maximum quantity (84.50%) of bamboo has been utilized by the respondents for building and scaffolding purposes. The raw bamboo in Assam mainly marketed outside the state through channel-I (Pole collector →Traders→ Other states of India) (46.43%) in Assam, while in Meghalaya, it was through channel-II (Pole Collector→ Traders (Assam/Shillong)) (81.35%). In Assam, five channels were identified for bamboo products and maximum quantity (49.24%) was marketed in channel-IV (Artisans→Trader-cum-Wholesaler-cum-Producer→ Outside Assam) whereas, in Meghalaya majority of the product (90.39%) was sold off through channel-I (Artisans→ Village merchant→ Wholesaler-cum-Retailer→ Consumer). The bamboo shoots were marketed only in Ri-Bhoi district of Meghalaya through five channels out of which three channels were used for marketing of fermented (pickled) bamboo shoots. Differentiated value added furniture products viz., sofa set, bed, dining table and handicrafts and traditional products (Japi, Duli and Khorahi) were marketed in Assam while in Meghalaya handicraft and traditional products (Polo and Khoh) were marketed. In Barpeta and Nalbari districts, the price spread was found to be higher in channel-I and channel-V, respectively for all the products while in Meghalaya, the maximum price spread was found in channel-I in both the districts for all the bamboo products. Positive impact of bamboo value chain was observed on different stakeholders’ income and expenditure with significant difference in the income distribution assessed through Gini coefficient. Maximum employment was generated at artisan’s level (533 mandays). The study recommends the establishment of bamboo product export zone in the NER with focus on export-oriented bamboo value chain including high value product development viz. laminated bamboo boards, engineered bamboo products, bamboo vinegar, etc. for the improved livelihood of the stakeholders involved in the sector.