Bamboo Technology, Development of North East Region

1. Genesis & Overview North East Centre for Technology Application and Reach (NECTAR) NECTAR is an autonomous society, set up under Department of Science & Technology, Government of India with its headquarter at Shillong, Meghalaya. The Centre will look at harnessing and leveraging niche frontier technologies available with central scientific departments and institutions. In order to assist the north eastern region, NECTAR will be ensuring applications of appropriate technologies for development in the areas of biodiversity concerns, watershed management, telemedicine, horticulture, infrastructure planning & development, planning and monitoring, and tele-schooling using cutting edge MESHNET solutions, employment generation etc. through utilization of local products/resources and associated skill development.

2. Bamboo Applications The activities of National Mission on Bamboo Applications will be embedded in the North East Centre for Technology Applications and Reach (NECTAR) • The National Mission on Bamboo Applications had been tasked with creating the basis for enlarging the bamboo sector, and with supporting the efforts of the Government of India towards augmenting economic opportunity, income and employment. • Focused on value addition & commercialisation • Develops, tests & disseminates technologies • Supports demonstration & entrepreneurial projects • A knowledge & technology network in action • Repository of Information

3. The Activities of National Mission on Bamboo Applications Wood substitutes and composites, including boards of varying descriptions and uses. They afford an opportunity to establish integrative models of economic activity – linking the organised and unorganised sectors and operating at differing levels of scale, enterprise and technology. A range of activities are being carried out to develop and validate technologies, encourage entrepreneurial and community enterprise, test products and promote their usage and application. Wood Substitutes And Composites

4. The Activities of National Mission on Bamboo Applications Agro Processing Bamboo shoots carry the potential of value added economic activity at the entrepreneurial and community level through cultivation, processing and packaging. Working with laboratories, testing facilities, technology developers, communities and entrepreneurs, mechanisms and methodologies have been developed, to encourage entrepreneurs to take up the processing of bamboo shoot for the market.

5. The Activities of National Mission on Bamboo Applications Machinery & Process Technologies Critical to the enlargement of the bamboo sector is the development of machinery, and equipment suited to Indian bamboo, and of process technologies for the growing range of products and applications. Process technologies are being validated, and converted to techno-economic packages for use by entrepreneurs.

6. The Activities of National Mission on Bamboo Applications Propagation & Cultivation Despite India's wealth of bamboo resources, a constraint inhibiting the development of value added enterprise is that of sourcing adequate raw material at reasonable prices. In most application areas there is a need for quality material, defined by species, maturity, bamboo characteristics, harvesting technique and post-harvest treatment. Good quality plant material and in sufficient quantity is a necessary condition if a large scale programme of high yielding plantation is to be taken up.

7. The Activities of National Mission on Bamboo Applications Bamboo For Energy Gasification of bamboo can produce energy and a range of valuable by-products. It reinforces a commitment to clean and renewable electricity and thermal energy. It can utilise waste generated by processing operations, substitute the use of fossil fuels, and lower operating costs. Promotion and induction of gasifiers using bamboo and bamboo waste to generate electricity and thermal energy, especially in off-grid and remote locations and to meet captive industry and utility needs.

8. Partners of North East Centre For Technology Application And Reach • Arunachal Pradesh • Assam • Manipur • Meghalaya • Mizoram • Nagaland • Sikkim • Tripura

9. Projects of North East Centre For Technology Application And Reach • Meshnet • SDR • Thin Client • Flood Modeling • Bamboo Board Marking Initiative • Ginger & Turmeric Processing • Agarbatti Marketing • Preservation of Natural Dye Yielding Plants • Bamboo Board Furniture

10. Thank You