GUWAHATI, March 13— Renowned bamboo expert Dr Ding Xingcui today said China was keen to lend its technical expertise to India, especially the North-east, to help tap its immense potential in the region. “China which is in an advanced stage of bamboo production, can provide technical training to India under a Sino-India cooperation project,” Dr Xingcui who is an Associate Professor at the China National Bamboo Research Centre told The Assam Tribune. Besides, he said, the two countries can also go for joint ventures on the research and development (R&D) front for diversification of products.
Dr Xingcui felt bamboo which grows so abundantly in the North-east can transform its economy and “what is needed is a long-term effective bamboo policy and infrastructural development.” The Chinese Government has been following a special bamboo policy since long and has put in a lot of effort in developing the sector — right from encouraging farmers and creating awareness to effecting land reforms, he said. “The boom time for bamboo business in China started more than two years back which now enjoys almost a monopoly status in the world market,” he said and added that the North-east if it harnesses its potential to the fullest, can very well give China a tough competition.
Bamboo industries generate over US $400 million annually in China. The products which have the most demand are furniture, bamboo flooring, household and decorative items, bamboo plywood, bamboo concrete form board etc, Dr Xingcui said. The Chinese Government has made huge investments in the sector’s technological development, and the results are there for all to see, he said, stressing the importance of skill upgradation.
According to Dr Xingcui, Chinese bamboo scores over its Indian counterpart as far as quality is concerned. “Its texture is finer and can be easily molded into different shapes; Indian bamboo is, however, very strong,” he said. Dr Xingcui who is here in connection with the Bamtech 2003, felt such seminars could do a great deal in creating awareness and disseminating information about scientific and sustainable use of bamboo. It may be mentioned that the Cane and Bamboo Technology Centre (CBTC) has sent five varieties of bamboo from the North-east to China for testing their technology on these bamboo.
Dr Xingcui felt that increasing use of bamboo products can also minimise exploitation of other natural wealths such as trees because bamboo can be used as a very good substitute for wood. “Thus bamboo can help a great deal in protection and preservation of nature and environment,” he said.
Although bamboo is yet to be regarded as a substitute for wood, it is really possible to use it for all the applications for which wood is generally used, he said.
Stressing the need for diversification of bamboo-based products so that they suit international standards and demands, Dr Xingcui said skill upgradation and latest technological expertise were crucial to achieve it. “Exchange programmes between the two countries can be of great help in this regard,” he said.