Bamboo and Screw Pine Industry in Kerala

Bamboo is considered as eco-friendly, sustainable and renewable natural resource having special properties of conducive in creating a wide range of everyday products. There are around 28 species of Bamboo are found in the state. Bamboo from Kerala forests is being supplied mainly to the pulp and rayon units at concessional rates. It is noteworthy that 67.3% of extracted bamboo comes from home gardens rather than from the forests. Workers weave screw pine leaves (Kaitha) and bamboo into durable mats, baskets, and eco-friendly utility goods. Kerala State Bamboo Mission (KSBM) was constituted in the year 2003 under the Department of Industries and Commerce to act as the Bamboo Development Agency (BDA) of the State. The interventions initiated after the formation of KSBM under K-BIP includes promoting the cultivation of bamboo, designing new innovative products with appropriate skill development, and the promotion of bamboo based modern industries with the aid of technology. The Kerala State Bamboo Corporation is an undertaking established in 1971 for the welfare, development and uplift of traditional bamboo workers in Kerala.