WBC to promote bamboo cultivation in NE

Guwahati, Sep 16 (PTI) The World Bamboo Congress,
beginning Wednesday in Thailand, would deliberate on ways to
promote Brahmaputra-Mekong Valley axis for sustainable bamboo
cultivation, a move expected to give a major fillip for its
production in India's north-eastern states.

"The focus this time is on cooperation between South
Asian countries and India as there are too many commonalities
between them as far bamboo development is concerned," World
Bamboo Organisation (WBO) President Kamesh Salam told PTI.

He said the brainstorming session in Bangkok, to be
participated by experts from around the world, would benefit
India's Northeast the most as it contributes more than 70 per
cent of the country's total bamboo production.

Arunachal Pradesh Governor General (retd) J J Singh
and Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphu Rio are participating in
the conference along with a large contingent of bamboo experts
from the region.

Salam said the focus for bamboo promotion till now was
on China.

The three-day conference would also explore
possibilities of mass utilisation of bamboo as replacement of
timber to tackle the issue of climate change, he said.

The WBO has declared September 18 as World Bamboo Day
to promote it usage. (MORE) PTI