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Bamboo is one of the best Cash Crop of Bangladesh
Bamboo, hailed as the miracle plant, holds immense economic and commercial potential, making it a key player in various industries. Commercial farming, with the adoption of modern technology, has the capacity to generate significant income and employment opportunities. Countries worldwide are utilizing tissue culture to produce improved bamboo varieties, extracting up to 20 tons per acre. Bamboo’s versatility extends beyond its traditional use in paper, with recent innovations producing cotton and yarn for the textile industry from bamboo stalks.
In Bangladesh, the bamboo industry is on the rise, manufacturing household furniture, plywood, particle board, and cement-bonded particle board using modern technology. The Forest Department’s research and experimentation have led to successful cutting methods, boosting bamboo cultivation’s potential. Recognized by the International Network for Bamboo and Rattan, bamboo trees contribute to climate change mitigation, prevent biodiversity loss, and combat soil erosion.
Bamboo’s fast growth and soil-rejuvenating properties have been instrumental in land rehabilitation, such as in Allahabad, India, where bamboo revitalized 85,000 hectares of land destroyed by brick kilns. The earthquake-resistant nature of bamboo buildings and the production of strong bamboo rods for various applications, including fishing nets, further highlight its invaluable natural resource status.
Turning to financial considerations, Sylhet and Chittagong regions lead in bamboo and cane cultivation. With approximately 1500 bamboo species globally, Bangladesh hosts 26 varieties, including Muli, Mitia, Chari, Aikka, Baija, Barra, Makal, Barabansha, Matla Tallya, Uda, Kanchan, Mulai, and Karamja. Notably, the Bhanugach area in Srimangal boasts the country’s largest and tallest bamboo species.
Bamboo’s historical journey in the cottage industry, introduced through Singapore and India, has evolved into widespread aesthetic applications, producing mats, hand fans, jhuris, rice husks, kola, furniture, toy houses, cots, comfortable beds, statues, and sculptures. With its role in reducing global warming and providing oxygen, bamboo remains a unique and essential component of sustainable living.
Beyond its material uses, bamboo holds cultural significance, featuring in literature, mathematics, and folklore. From its association with the Radha-Krishna love story to the patriotic symbol of the ‘Bamboo Fort of Titumir,’ bamboo has left an indelible mark on history. In rural Bengal, bamboo plays a role in traditional games like Lathikhela, and proverbs highlight its significance, emphasizing the importance of bamboo in various states, be it ripe, raw, or larger than Kanchi.
In conclusion, bamboo’s multifaceted nature, from economic potential to cultural symbolism, positions it as a high-value product with implications for sustainable development and diverse industries. The call for increased bamboo cultivation and government support underscores its crucial role in the future.
1. What makes bamboo a “miracle plant,” according to the article?
Answer: Bamboo is considered a miracle plant due to its great economic and commercial potential. It can be commercially farmed to generate substantial income and employment. Additionally, bamboo has diverse uses ranging from paper and textiles to furniture and construction materials.
2. How is modern technology being utilized in bamboo cultivation?
Answer: Modern technology, specifically tissue culture, is being used to produce improved varieties of bamboo seedlings. This method allows for the extraction of up to 20 tons of bamboo per acre. Moreover, there are innovations in extracting cotton and yarn from bamboo stalks for the textile industry.
3. What environmental benefits are associated with bamboo cultivation?
Answer: Bamboo has several environmental benefits, including preventing soil erosion through its roots, contributing to soil rejuvenation when its leaves fall, and aiding in the rehabilitation of degraded land. The International Network for Bamboo and Rattan highlights bamboo’s role in combating climate change and preventing biodiversity loss.
4. How is bamboo used in construction, and what unique qualities does it offer?
Answer: Bamboo is used in earthquake-resistant construction. Buildings made of bamboo have proven to be resilient in earthquakes. In Japan, strong bamboo rods are used to build houses in earthquake-prone areas. Additionally, bamboo is used in making fishing nets due to its strength.
5. What role does bamboo play in reducing global warming?
Answer: Bamboo is unique in reducing global warming as it produces more oxygen than any other plant and absorbs more carbon dioxide. Its rapid growth and versatility make it an environmentally friendly resource.
6. What historical and cultural significance does bamboo hold in Bengal, according to the article?
Answer: Bamboo holds cultural significance in Bengal, being associated with literature, mathematics (used in oiled bamboo for math), and historical events. The article mentions the use of bamboo in the immortal love story of Radha-Krishna, the ‘Bamboo Fort of Titumir’ inspired by patriotism, and the traditional game of Lathikhela played with bamboo sticks in rural Bengal.
7. What nutritional value does bamboo offer, and in which countries is it considered a vegetable?
Answer: Bamboo is prized as a vegetable in countries like China, Thailand, and Myanmar due to its nutritional value and taste. Young bamboo shoots, which are commonly eaten in Asia, contain germanium, a substance that helps prevent cell aging.
8. What historical technological use of bamboo is mentioned in the article?
Answer: Thomas Alva Edison used bamboo filament in the first electric light bulb in 1879. One of these bulbs, with a carbonized bamboo filament capable of burning for 1200 hours, is preserved in the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, DC.
