Taxonomy and Socio-Economic Study of Bamboos – a case study on impacts of bamboo-enterprises on Pahari community in Badikhel VDC, Lalitpur, Nepal
Date
2008
Authors
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Publisher
Central Department of Botany
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.
Description
Keywords
taxonomy, bamboo species