V. Anitha , P. K. Muraleedharan , K. V. Santheep

Abstract

The Traditional Bamboo Dependent (TBDs) community produce traditional bamboo products for their subsistence as well as for meeting the local seasonal demand. Bamboo based production activities of TBDs involve four stages, viz., collection of raw materials, processing, production and marketing. The raw material requirement of the bamboo dependents is mainly sourced from the private depots, home gardens and forest. Production is a highly time consuming laborious activity. A market analysis of the bamboo products highlights that the opportunity cost is greater than the earned benefit and the community is under-paid even during the peak period of sales. Plastic and rubber industry offer various substitutes to the bamboo products of TBDs and pose a threat to the existence of these environment-friendly products in the long run. The paper highlights that for ensuring the sustainable development of the sector, the apt strategy would be long-term market development, product-education, product diversification, introduction of modern technology and expansion of market.

Keywords

Traditional Bamboo Dependents, Opportunity Cost, Market and Bamboo Products

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P. K. Muraleedharan , V. Anitha , K. Sreelakshmi , T. D. Simon

Abstract

The National Housing Policy announced by the Government of India in 1994, emphasised the construction of low cost houses with locally available materials. In this context, bamboo as a construction material, assumes greater significance. Bamboo has been used traditionally by various sections of society in Kerala since times immemorial. Of late, there has been a significant decline in the number of bamboo houses in the State. An attempt was made in this study to assess the socio-economic factors contributing to the non-preference of bamboo as a coustruction material. The study is based on sample survey conducted among 180 households with bamboo houses. Although bamboos are available in plenty, the housing sector experiences severe shortage of the same as the pulp and paper industry purchases bamboos by offering higher prices. About 95 per cent of the selected households preferred tiled bamboo houses to thatched ones because of durability and low maintenance cost. Low income of the people and non-availability of good quality bamboos constitute two major constraints in the promotion of bamboo houses.

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