Taxonomy and Socio-Economic Study of Bamboos – a case study on impacts of bamboo-enterprises on Pahari community in Badikhel VDC, Lalitpur, Nepal

Abstract

The taxonomy of bamboo species and the associate enterprises involving bamboo-based weaving and handicraft making in Badikhel VDC, Lalitpur district, Central Nepal were studied. The aims of the research were to determine the richness of bamboo diversity with their taxonomy and to assess the socio-economic importance of bamboo craftmaking on Pahari community, one of the ethnic groups in the study area. It was found that Badikhel impregnates four species of bamboo belonging to two genera viz. Bambusa and Drepanostachyum. Bambusa is the dominant genus with three species in the study area. It was also found that bamboo is an important and traditional source of livelihood for Paharis. Forty households were randomly selected from the areas with higher density of bamboo entrepreneurship practiced for questionnaire survey. Perceived stakeholders were interviewed to examine their roles and to find out the contribution of bamboo enterprises to household income from the bamboo enterprises. Group discussions on issues of bamboo cultivation and management were conducted following RRA and PRA techniques. An average bamboo handicraft maker obtained not more than NRs. 5000 per month from the cash sales of assorted handicrafts. All respondents indicated that the income from bamboo enterprise was mainly for household petty cash, i.e., hand-to-mouth consumption. No significant bamboo management practices were carried out by the entrepreneurs. Three out of four community managed forests in the study area practiced bamboo plantations of only one species, Bambusa nepalensis in accordance to the demand. A few stakeholders in bamboo enterprise and resource management were merely involved in actual promotion of bamboo handicraft industry and actual bamboo management.