Mr. Arun Ishwar Wandre, Director, Rhizome Bamboo Tech, Kolhapur, Maharashtra, explains about bamboo precision farming and application in industries.
Since the last few years, bamboo is emerging as a major commercial cash crop in India, with many farmers coming forward to cultivate bamboo and Central government coming up with many policies to enhance bamboo cultivation and application. It is important to look for more opportunities in bamboo farming in various sectors and improve the income generation.
To cultivate bamboo in the farm level as a cash crop, we have to opt for medium density plantation that covers 444 plants per acre with row spacing at 14 feet and plant to plant 7 feet. In the first year of bamboo plantation, we have to invest Rs. 70 thousand to procure bamboo saplings, labour cost, manure and fertiliser cost, and other management strategies. If we go for drip irrigation, we have to spend another Rs. 25 thousand. So about Rs. 95 thousand to Rs. 1 lakh we have to spend in the first year. Any type of soil is suitable for bamboo farming. The farmers should select such a land where no other crop is grown, and such a wasteland is ideal for bamboo cultivation. Irrigation management is an important aspect of bamboo as commercial crop. We should also look into nutrition management. Agronomical practices should be followed to get better returns after 4 years. From the second year onwards, bamboo starts production, will grow 20 to 30 feet, and after 3rd year, shoots start coming up. After 4th year, farmers can get all the benefits and income. When we plant different species of bamboo, the yield also differs. Bambusa balcoa produces 40 tons while Bambusa tulda yields about 30 to 35 tons. From one acre of bamboo biomass, we can get Rs. 1 lakh per acre per year after the 4th year onwards.
Bambusa balcoa is an indigenous species and available mostly in Assam and North East area. It is mostly consumed for industrial application, power sector near Nagpur, and biomass based thermal power plant in 2015. In Kolhapur, we have a power plant which is Integrated Sugar and Cogeneration Power Plant where we have tried to use bamboo biomass for burning fuel for thermal power. We are also looking for availability of fossil coal which is becoming low in availability and has high Carbon di Oxide emission. India need about 95 thousand to 1 lakh ton coal per day for power generation sector. When we look for using bamboo in power plant, we need about 90 to 95 thousand tons of bamboo every day. It is also used in bio-coal industries which produces briquettes of 60 to 90 mm size and pellet which is about 8 to 10 mm in thickness. These are mainly used in biomass based burners, pharmaceuticals, and other industrial sector that have boilers. MDF board is a large sector that consumes biomass. The fossil charcoal comes from the soil, and we can convert bamboo into charcoal within a short period of time. Paper pulp and other construction industries are using Bambusa balcoa species for their products.
Bambusa tulda is another species that is mostly used in agarbathi stick manufacturing which has a huge market of Rs. 12 thousand crores turnover. As of now, we are importing agarbathi sticks from Vietnam and China. Manufacturing units are installed in Noth East region which are limited. We need about 75 thousand tons of bamboo while India can produce only 4 to 5 tons. This species is used widely in agarbathi stick manufacturing, kulfi, and ice cream sticks apart from chop sticks. The next species that is highly demanded is Dendrocalamus stocksii which is widely used for scaffolding purposes. This grows up to 25 feet tall and is mainly used in construction, fruit and vegetable stacking, basketry, and matting work. Parts of Karnataka and Maharashtra grow this species. The fourth species is Dendrocalamus brandisii which is a giant bamboo and grows up to 120 ft tall. This species is mainly used in construction, board, bamboo composites, and shoots are edible. This is also called as Burma bamboo.
Many years ago, bamboo was grown nearby river banks, streams, and nala, and other areas where farmers were not growing any cultivation. Bamboo is used in stacking fruits and vegetables, low cost greenhouse structures. When we use metal and GI pipes for the structures, it works out very expensive. So bamboo is a very viable resource to replace steel. Many low cost technology structures are coming up. Construction sector has a huge demand for bamboo apart from craft work, artistic works, handicrafts, furniture, and jewellery. The agarbathi industry requires sticks in huge quantity. Power sector requires biomass fuel. Briquettes and pellets are also highly useful. Charcoal is in great demand for water and gas purification, and we can use bamboo biomass instead of charcoal which is economical. Stocksii variety, also called mango bamboo, has about Rs. 40 crores turnover, and it is grown in mountain areas and rainfed conditions. They are also grown in river banks, slopy lands, and acidic soil. Bambusa Bambus, called Katang Bamboo, is a thorny one, with a turnover of Rs. 20 crores in Kolhapur district alone. Bamboo is the fastest growing species, growing in clump communities. It is a miracle plant, produces woody biomass like teak, sturdy, and drought resistant, and has resistance for pests and diseases. It can be planted in any season on any type of soil. Bamboos can last for 50 to 100 years, stronger than steel, biodegradable, and environment friendly. It can be substituted for plastic, thermacoal, rubber, and synthetic fibre.
Bamboo helps in low cost greenhouse structures and polyhouse constructions. It costs Rs. 400 per sq. MT while steel costs Rs. 1500 per sq. mt. In Maharashtra, we use prefabricated bamboo structures in polyhouses. The Cogan power plants and sugar factories need bout 9 thousand MT of bagasse per hour. If we replace bamboo biomass in power plants, it needs less quantity as it is a renewable energy source. Harvested and shredded bamboo biomass is brought to the power plant and used in the industries. In Bali, a school is constructed using bamboo. With bamboo precision farming, we can create a natural farm in 2 years, and thick bamboos have a great market demand.
How does precision farming enhance the cultivation practices and key technologies interventions involved?
I got 50 tons(not 250 tons) of bamboo biomass per acre. This produce is in selective clums harvesting. The culms which are mature one and age is about 3 years old are harvested every year.
In case of bamboo complete clear fall harvesting is not recommended like sugar cane. Other wise it will badly affects on clump and rhizome formation in soil.
Can you share specific examples of industries currently benefitting from bamboo cultivation through precision farming techniques?
Construction industries have a great demand for bamboos from Maharashtra. MDF Board and ply board industries also need about 100 tons of bamboo every day. Some textile manufacturers in Karnataka have approached us for bamboo fibre for fabric development. Many paper industries need bamboo. A few years ago, West Coast Paper Mills was consuming bamboo for paper pulp, but now technology has changed, and they have switched over to other tree species due to unavailability of bamboo. Some cement industries also use bamboo, but we are unable to supply to their full requirement.
What are the major challenges in bamboo precision farming, and how can they be addressed?
The major challenges include: the farmers take bamboo cultivation very easily, they think bamboo does not require water, and can be grown easily. But they do not have enough knowledge regarding bamboo cultivation practices. So farmers should be trained to know that bamboo can be grown like crops such as sugarcane, banana, and grape. But these other plants need high amount of water. So farmers have to focus on planting bamboos, concentrate on how to nourish the plants with nutritional management, and irrigation as required. We have to focus on these to get beneficial production.
How does bamboo cultivation contribute to sustainable practices in the industry, and what are the environmental benefit it offers?
Bamboo is a renewable energy plant and grass useful for many industries. Each year, bamboo plants multiply even as we harvest them. about 150 tons of carbon di oxide is sequestered in one acre of bamboo plantation. Farmers can apply to get CO2 credit. As farmers grow crops like sugarcane and others, the soil lacks nutrition. To restore the soil, properties like physical and chemical, bamboo plantation ahs a very positive impact on the soil. This is a benefit we get when we start bamboo plantation.
What are the species suitable for precision farming and why? In terms of resources optimisation, why does precision farming impact water and nutrient use efficiency in bamboo cultivation?
Bambusa balcoa and Dendrocalamus stocksii are suitable for precision farming. We have to go for integrated fertiliser management by using chemical and biofertilizers for beneficial impact on bamboo cultivation. When we use them, the microflora of the soil can be maintained. Bamboo will generate a better revenue for farmers. In other crops like sugarcane, we have to plant every year. but once we plant bamboo, we have to harvest and manage the crop with nutrition and irrigation methods. These two factors optimise productivity and less crop management. Bamboo will grow for 50 years and yield benefits under all kinds of circumstances.
Can you elaborate on potential economic returns for farmers practising precision bamboo farming compared to traditional methods?
Earlier, bamboo was not cultivated on a unit area like one acre etc. It grew on lands nearby river and streams. It was simply planted in wasteland and not well managed. The farmers never applied irrigation and nutrition management. The trees were cut routinely after 3 years. In precision farming, all economical and scientific way of cultivation are used. Our production is optimising, and every year, we can produce more with irrigation and nutrition management. We can harvest every year. These are the benefits in adopting precision technology in bamboo cultivation.
What role does technology play in adding value to bamboo products and industrial applications?
Bamboo is widely used in power sector, briquette, textile, and has great demand in many industrial sectors such as construction. Farmers have to check which industry will prefer his bamboo and the type of species needed.
What innovations and advancements in bamboo precision farming do you see shaping bamboo based industry?
Since there is a huge demand, innovations are still going on as to how to harvest, shave, and use in industries. Each and every aspect should be defined in bamboo farming, in each stage of bamboo cultivation we need precision technology. There are many opportunities to experiment in such a type of cultivation practices to increase the production for the consumer. The steps we take should be careful, and we need to follow technology for better yield. We have many things that are viable in bamboo cultivation.
CONTACT: Mr. Arun Ishwar Wandre
Director
Rhizome Bamboo tech
Kolhapur, Maharashtra
Email: ishwar.agbs@gmail.com
Phone': 8830084317
Since the last few years, bamboo is emerging as a major commercial cash crop in India, with many farmers coming forward to cultivate bamboo and Central government coming up with many policies to enhance bamboo cultivation and application. It is important to look for more opportunities in bamboo farming in various sectors and improve the income generation.
To cultivate bamboo in the farm level as a cash crop, we have to opt for medium density plantation that covers 444 plants per acre with row spacing at 14 feet and plant to plant 7 feet. In the first year of bamboo plantation, we have to invest Rs. 70 thousand to procure bamboo saplings, labour cost, manure and fertiliser cost, and other management strategies. If we go for drip irrigation, we have to spend another Rs. 25 thousand. So about Rs. 95 thousand to Rs. 1 lakh we have to spend in the first year. Any type of soil is suitable for bamboo farming. The farmers should select such a land where no other crop is grown, and such a wasteland is ideal for bamboo cultivation. Irrigation management is an important aspect of bamboo as commercial crop. We should also look into nutrition management. Agronomical practices should be followed to get better returns after 4 years. From the second year onwards, bamboo starts production, will grow 20 to 30 feet, and after 3rd year, shoots start coming up. After 4th year, farmers can get all the benefits and income. When we plant different species of bamboo, the yield also differs. Bambusa balcoa produces 40 tons while Bambusa tulda yields about 30 to 35 tons. From one acre of bamboo biomass, we can get Rs. 1 lakh per acre per year after the 4th year onwards.
Bambusa balcoa is an indigenous species and available mostly in Assam and North East area. It is mostly consumed for industrial application, power sector near Nagpur, and biomass based thermal power plant in 2015. In Kolhapur, we have a power plant which is Integrated Sugar and Cogeneration Power Plant where we have tried to use bamboo biomass for burning fuel for thermal power. We are also looking for availability of fossil coal which is becoming low in availability and has high Carbon di Oxide emission. India need about 95 thousand to 1 lakh ton coal per day for power generation sector. When we look for using bamboo in power plant, we need about 90 to 95 thousand tons of bamboo every day. It is also used in bio-coal industries which produces briquettes of 60 to 90 mm size and pellet which is about 8 to 10 mm in thickness. These are mainly used in biomass based burners, pharmaceuticals, and other industrial sector that have boilers. MDF board is a large sector that consumes biomass. The fossil charcoal comes from the soil, and we can convert bamboo into charcoal within a short period of time. Paper pulp and other construction industries are using Bambusa balcoa species for their products.
Bambusa tulda is another species that is mostly used in agarbathi stick manufacturing which has a huge market of Rs. 12 thousand crores turnover. As of now, we are importing agarbathi sticks from Vietnam and China. Manufacturing units are installed in Noth East region which are limited. We need about 75 thousand tons of bamboo while India can produce only 4 to 5 tons. This species is used widely in agarbathi stick manufacturing, kulfi, and ice cream sticks apart from chop sticks. The next species that is highly demanded is Dendrocalamus stocksii which is widely used for scaffolding purposes. This grows up to 25 feet tall and is mainly used in construction, fruit and vegetable stacking, basketry, and matting work. Parts of Karnataka and Maharashtra grow this species. The fourth species is Dendrocalamus brandisii which is a giant bamboo and grows up to 120 ft tall. This species is mainly used in construction, board, bamboo composites, and shoots are edible. This is also called as Burma bamboo.
Many years ago, bamboo was grown nearby river banks, streams, and nala, and other areas where farmers were not growing any cultivation. Bamboo is used in stacking fruits and vegetables, low cost greenhouse structures. When we use metal and GI pipes for the structures, it works out very expensive. So bamboo is a very viable resource to replace steel. Many low cost technology structures are coming up. Construction sector has a huge demand for bamboo apart from craft work, artistic works, handicrafts, furniture, and jewellery. The agarbathi industry requires sticks in huge quantity. Power sector requires biomass fuel. Briquettes and pellets are also highly useful. Charcoal is in great demand for water and gas purification, and we can use bamboo biomass instead of charcoal which is economical. Stocksii variety, also called mango bamboo, has about Rs. 40 crores turnover, and it is grown in mountain areas and rainfed conditions. They are also grown in river banks, slopy lands, and acidic soil. Bambusa Bambus, called Katang Bamboo, is a thorny one, with a turnover of Rs. 20 crores in Kolhapur district alone. Bamboo is the fastest growing species, growing in clump communities. It is a miracle plant, produces woody biomass like teak, sturdy, and drought resistant, and has resistance for pests and diseases. It can be planted in any season on any type of soil. Bamboos can last for 50 to 100 years, stronger than steel, biodegradable, and environment friendly. It can be substituted for plastic, thermacoal, rubber, and synthetic fibre.
Bamboo helps in low cost greenhouse structures and polyhouse constructions. It costs Rs. 400 per sq. MT while steel costs Rs. 1500 per sq. mt. In Maharashtra, we use prefabricated bamboo structures in polyhouses. The Cogan power plants and sugar factories need bout 9 thousand MT of bagasse per hour. If we replace bamboo biomass in power plants, it needs less quantity as it is a renewable energy source. Harvested and shredded bamboo biomass is brought to the power plant and used in the industries. In Bali, a school is constructed using bamboo. With bamboo precision farming, we can create a natural farm in 2 years, and thick bamboos have a great market demand.
How does precision farming enhance the cultivation practices and key technologies interventions involved?
I got 50 tons(not 250 tons) of bamboo biomass per acre. This produce is in selective clums harvesting. The culms which are mature one and age is about 3 years old are harvested every year.
In case of bamboo complete clear fall harvesting is not recommended like sugar cane. Other wise it will badly affects on clump and rhizome formation in soil.
Can you share specific examples of industries currently benefitting from bamboo cultivation through precision farming techniques?
Construction industries have a great demand for bamboos from Maharashtra. MDF Board and ply board industries also need about 100 tons of bamboo every day. Some textile manufacturers in Karnataka have approached us for bamboo fibre for fabric development. Many paper industries need bamboo. A few years ago, West Coast Paper Mills was consuming bamboo for paper pulp, but now technology has changed, and they have switched over to other tree species due to unavailability of bamboo. Some cement industries also use bamboo, but we are unable to supply to their full requirement.
What are the major challenges in bamboo precision farming, and how can they be addressed?
The major challenges include: the farmers take bamboo cultivation very easily, they think bamboo does not require water, and can be grown easily. But they do not have enough knowledge regarding bamboo cultivation practices. So farmers should be trained to know that bamboo can be grown like crops such as sugarcane, banana, and grape. But these other plants need high amount of water. So farmers have to focus on planting bamboos, concentrate on how to nourish the plants with nutritional management, and irrigation as required. We have to focus on these to get beneficial production.
How does bamboo cultivation contribute to sustainable practices in the industry, and what are the environmental benefit it offers?
Bamboo is a renewable energy plant and grass useful for many industries. Each year, bamboo plants multiply even as we harvest them. about 150 tons of carbon di oxide is sequestered in one acre of bamboo plantation. Farmers can apply to get CO2 credit. As farmers grow crops like sugarcane and others, the soil lacks nutrition. To restore the soil, properties like physical and chemical, bamboo plantation ahs a very positive impact on the soil. This is a benefit we get when we start bamboo plantation.
What are the species suitable for precision farming and why? In terms of resources optimisation, why does precision farming impact water and nutrient use efficiency in bamboo cultivation?
Bambusa balcoa and Dendrocalamus stocksii are suitable for precision farming. We have to go for integrated fertiliser management by using chemical and biofertilizers for beneficial impact on bamboo cultivation. When we use them, the microflora of the soil can be maintained. Bamboo will generate a better revenue for farmers. In other crops like sugarcane, we have to plant every year. but once we plant bamboo, we have to harvest and manage the crop with nutrition and irrigation methods. These two factors optimise productivity and less crop management. Bamboo will grow for 50 years and yield benefits under all kinds of circumstances.
Can you elaborate on potential economic returns for farmers practising precision bamboo farming compared to traditional methods?
Earlier, bamboo was not cultivated on a unit area like one acre etc. It grew on lands nearby river and streams. It was simply planted in wasteland and not well managed. The farmers never applied irrigation and nutrition management. The trees were cut routinely after 3 years. In precision farming, all economical and scientific way of cultivation are used. Our production is optimising, and every year, we can produce more with irrigation and nutrition management. We can harvest every year. These are the benefits in adopting precision technology in bamboo cultivation.
What role does technology play in adding value to bamboo products and industrial applications?
Bamboo is widely used in power sector, briquette, textile, and has great demand in many industrial sectors such as construction. Farmers have to check which industry will prefer his bamboo and the type of species needed.
What innovations and advancements in bamboo precision farming do you see shaping bamboo based industry?
Since there is a huge demand, innovations are still going on as to how to harvest, shave, and use in industries. Each and every aspect should be defined in bamboo farming, in each stage of bamboo cultivation we need precision technology. There are many opportunities to experiment in such a type of cultivation practices to increase the production for the consumer. The steps we take should be careful, and we need to follow technology for better yield. We have many things that are viable in bamboo cultivation.
CONTACT: Mr. Arun Ishwar Wandre
Director
Rhizome Bamboo tech
Kolhapur, Maharashtra
Email: ishwar.agbs@gmail.com
Phone': 8830084317