Bamboo Policy of North East

NAGALAND AT A GLANCE

Location:

Nagaland is a narrow strip of mountainous territory between the Brahmaputra Valley of Assam and Myanmar . It is bordered by the state of Manipur on the south, Assam on the west and north and Arunachal Pradesh on the north east, on the east it shares India ’s international border with Myanmar .

Physiography:

Nagaland is mountainous in the north Naga Hills rise abruptly from the Brahmaputra Valley to about 610m and then increase in elevation towards the south-east to more than 1800m. The mountains merge with Patkai range along the Myanmar Border reaching a maximum height of 3841m at Mount Saramati . Capital Kohima is at 1444m above the sea level.

The region is deeply dissected by rivers, the Doyang and Dikhu in the north, the Barak in the south west and the tributaries of the Chindwin river of Myanmar in the south east.

The forest cover in 1997 was 14221 Sq.Km which has been reduced to 13345 Sq.Km in 2001 primarily due to Jhuming. Below 1219m are tropical and sub-tropical evergreen forests. Containing bamboos, rattan, as well as valuable timber species such as mahogoany. Coniferous forests are found at higher elevation. Elephant, tigers, bear and several kinds of monkeys, deer, wild oxen live in lower hills.

Climate:

Nagaland has a monsoon climate. The average temperature decrease with greater elevation. In summer, the temperature ranges from 21°C to 40°C while in winter they rarely drop below 4°C but frost is common over higher elevation. Humidity is generally high.

Rainfall:

Rainfall averages between 1800 and 2500 mm and is concentrated in the months of the south west monsoon (May to September).

Economy:

The economy of the state is dependent on agriculture which employs about 90 per cent of the population. Rice, maize, pulses, oil seeds, sugarcane, potato and tobacco are principal crops. Nagaland has to depend on imports of food grains from other states. The widespread practice of Jhum has led to soil erosion and loss of soil fertility. Only Angami and Chakhesang of the southern district of Kohima use terracing and irrigation technique. Forestry is also a primary source of income and employment in Nagaland.

A number of tribes such as Angami, Ao, Lotha and Rengma occupying the Naga hills known as Naga speak related Tibet – Burmanlanguages. The relation between various Naga lineages were traditionally ordered in terms of complex rules concerning marriage, and feud between lineages often involved the practice of headhunting. The advent of British administration ended the inter village raids and headhunting and most of the Naga have converted to Christianity. Women hold relatively high and honorable position in Naga society. They work in the fields on equal terms and enjoy considerable influence in the tribal councils.

When India became independence in 1947, Naga nationalist were unsuccessful in establishing a sovereign state and remained a part of Assam . A strong nationalist movement continued seeking political union of the Naga tribes and cesstion from the Union of India. In 1957 after an agreement was reached between the Naga leaders and the Union of India, through which the Naga Hills District of Assam and the Tuengsang Frontier Division were brought under a single unit directly administered as Union Territory . Despite this, unrest continued and as a result in 1960 a further accord reached in which it was resolved that Nagaland should become a constituent state of Indian Union and accordingly. Nagaland achieved statehood in 1963. Notwithstanding a 1975 cease-fire accord and substantial economic aid, sporadic extremist activities continue for political union of all Naga inhibited areas and Naga tribes and their independence.

Other data in respect of Nagaland are –

Area : 16579 Sq.Km.

Principal Languages : English, Ao, Kanyak, Angami,

Seema and Lotha

Population : 19,88,636

Peracentage of decadal growth of population : 64.41

(1990 – 2001)

Male : 10,41,686

Female : 9,46,950

Rural : 16,35,815

Male : 8,46,651

Female : 7.89,164

Urban : 3,52,821

Male : 1,95,035

Female : 1,57,786

% of urban population : 17.74%

Child between six years : 2,80,172

Male : 1,41,852

Female : 1,38,320

Literacy rate : 65%

Women literate : 5,00,716

Male literate : 6,45,807

Density of population : 120

The number of literates and illiterates in Nagaland (As per 2001 Census) are as under (Figures of 1991 given in brackets):

Total population

Child 0 – 6 years

No.of literates

No.of illiterates

19,88,636

(12,09,546)

2,80,172

(2,07,487)

11,46,523

(6,17,736)

5,61,041

(3,84,323)

Infrastructure:

Roads (As per Annual Report : 21021 Km

of M/s. Surface Transport, 2003)

Railway route length : 12.85 Km

Railway route density per thousand Sq.Km : 0.78 Km

In 2004

No. of Airports : 1 (one)

Per capita consumption of Electricity in 2002-03 : 139.11 Kwh.

Social Infrastructure:

No. of Towns (as per 2001 Census) : 11

No. of Districts : 11

No. of Government Hospitals : 17

No. of Post Office : 322

No. of Bank branches (As on 31-3-05 ): 67

Amount of Deposit (in Crores) : Rs.1479.12 Crores

(As on 31-3-05 )

Amount of Advances (in Crores) : Rs.344.55 Crores

(As on 31-3-05 )

Credit Deposit Ratio (As on 31-3-05 ) : 23.29

Major Industries/Crops/Minerals : Industries exploration and refining of Petroleum, Coal, Saw Plywood & Veneer Mills, Lime, Paper, Handloom & Handicrafts (Bamboo & Cane), Sericulture, Brass & Bell metal. Crops: Tea, Rice, Jute, Cotton, Oil seeds, Sugarcane.

Some of the other basic data of Nagaland are as under:

1. Total Geographical Area : 16579 Sq.m.

Total

2. Total Population : Name of District Population

As per 2001 Census 1 Kohima 1,33,557

19,88,636 2. Makokchung 2,26,338

3. Tuengsang 1,32,429

4. Mon 2,21,162

5. Wokha 1,37,792

6 Zuneboto 1,12,578

7. Phek 1,06,561

8. Dimapur 1,80,168

9. Kephire 87,573

10. Longleng 97,894

11. Peron 79,391

________

Total: 19,88,636

3. Total Population below Poverty Line :105100 families (2000-01)

4. Total Holding Pattern –

(i) Whether Forest Land owned by individual : 762,197 hectres.

(ii) Forest land owned by the Government : 1,00,823 ,,

5. Total No. of major river: 6 (six) : Name of River I. Dhansiri

II. Doyang

III. Tuensang

IV. Milak

V. Dikhu

VI. Tiru

VII. Tizu

6. Total Nos. of National High Ways : Name of Highway Total Length

NH-39 248 Km

State H 1070 Km

As per the report of the Ministry of Road Transport Govt. of India as on March,2003, Nagaland has a total road length of 21021 Km. The rail routs length provides a critical inputs for overcoming transport bottlenecks in any state or region. However, as on March,2004, the rail density expressed in terms of routs length per thousand square kilometer in Nagaland was 0.78 Km as against all India figure of 700.36 Km displaying the most outward appearance of Nagaland’s infrastructural infirmity that calls for any urgent need for building up rail & road network in Nagaland to catch-up with other states of the country.

7. Total Nos. of PWD Roads –

I. Total Nos. : N.A.

II. Total lengths : 23380 Km

8. No. of Industrial Estates - : 2

I. Locations Name : KIPHIRE - TIZIT

II. Total Area : 3 acre (approx)- 3 acres (approx).

III. No. of Shed : 5 5

IV. Occupied : Nil Nil

V. Vacant : Nil Nil

VI. Power Positions : Adequate power supply not available

VII Present Status : Incomplete Incomplete

9. Total Power Scenario:

I. Total Power requirement in the state : 280.04 MU

II. Power availability : 40 – 80 MW

III. Peak Demand : 75 MW

10. Total number of villages : 1106

Name of District No. of Villages No. of Household

I. Phek 89 21623

II. Mon 93 22194

III. Zunebato 175 18947

IV. Dimapur 126 20763

V. Wokha 105 13722

VI. Tuensang 107 19117

VII. Kohima 147 20004

VIII. Mokikchung 79 15700

IX Peren 94 10432

X Kiphire 66 9808

XI Longlen 25 11844

_____ ______

Total : 1106 184127

==== =====

11. Un-employment Scenario – : 34131 Unemployed youth

12. The level of Poverty:

Although there exists in equalities in a number of areas such as inaccessibility and geographical terrains, infrastructure handicaps distance from marketing hub and educational and technological centres, lack of Industrial exposure in Nagaland yet, the level of poverty in Nagaland is much lower level (26.43%) as compared to national average of 35%. Out of the total population of 1988636, the number of people below poverty line is 525500 which works out to 26.43%.

13. Information From Forest Department :

Total area under forest – 8,62,930 Hectare (District-wise data not available)

(i) Forest area under Govt. Control –

(a) Reserve Forest : 8583 Hectare

(b) Purchased forests : 19162 ,,

(c) Protected forests : 50756 ,,

(d) Wild life Sancheary : 22237 ,,

_____________

160823 Hectare ( 11.7%)

(ii) Forest area under private control –

(a) Village Forests :

- Virgin Forests 4,77,827 Hectare

- Degraded Forest 2,84,280 Hectare

_______________

7,62,197 Hectare ( 88.3%)

14. Agriculture Department :

Total area of Agricultural land (in Hectare ) : 324429 Hectare

Total Bamboo area under Agriculture ( in Hectare) : 1000 Hectare

Total Bamboo cultivation area under agriculture (in Hectare) : 500 Hectare

15. Names of various species of bamboo :

1. Sinarundinaria griffithiana (Munro)

(Arundinaria griffithiana Munro)

2 Sinarundinaria elegans (Kurz)

(Arundinaria elegans Kurz)

3 Sinarundinaria rolloana (gamble)

Arundinaria rolloana Gamble)

4. Sinarundinaria nagalandiana

5. Chimonobambusa callosa (Munro)

(Arundinaria callosa (Munro)

6. Neomicrocalamus prainii (Gamble)

(Arundinaria prainii Gamble)

7. Bambusa balcooa Roxb.

8. Bambusa tulda Roxb.

9. Bambusa palliada Munro

10. Dendrocalamus hookeri Munro

11. Dendrocalamus hamiltonii Nees

12. Dendrocalamus giganteus Munro

13. Dendrocalamus calostachys (Kurz)

14. Schizostachyum polymorphum (Munro)

(Pseudostachyum polymorphum (Munro)

15. Schizostachyum dullooa (Gamble)

(Teinostachyum dullooa (Gamble)

16. Schizostachyum fuchsianum (Gamble)

(Cephalostachyum fuchsianum (Gamble)

17. Melocanna baccifera (Roxb.)

POTENTIAL FOR INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT OF NAGALAND A SWOT ANALYSIS

STRENGTH:

Ø Majority of the people of Nagaland have some access to land and other productive resources like livestock, loom etc. This is a great advantage, which has not been utilized adequately for income generation by increasing productivity in agriculture, horticulture, handloom, handicrafts and rural and small agro-based industrial sector.

Ø The geo-climatic condition of Nagaland is most suitable for growth and development of bamboo sector which has remained unexplored.

Ø The high literacy rate and female participation in economic activities is an added advantage of the state.

Ø There is adequate land for commercial plantation of bamboo and other agro-horticultural crops. With increasing research on elemental analysis of chemical properties of bamboo and screening of plant compounds likealkaloids, phenols, neuro-chemicals organic acids, trace elements and other macromolecules etc. and their effect on insect, bacterial or animal systems as well as assessment of the potency of the chemical compounds with respect to toxicity, biocidal and medicinal values through involvement of Department of Scientific and Industrial Research(DSIR) of the Ministry of Science and Technology and their end use in medicine and other purposes of daily use would open new avenues for development of small scale industries including pharmaceutical industry, agriculture, industrial and medicinal plantations, germplasm and genebanks and other biodiversity infrastructure leading to overall growth and development of the state as also biodiversity conservation.

Ø Nimble-fingered women folk of Nagaland is an added advantage to boost the growth of Handloom and weaving sector with intervention of modern machine tools and design techniques.

Ø Local farmers/posses the required skills for use of mechanical properties of bamboo and its traditional use. A little intervention of modern scientific management techniques for plantation and multiple commercial utilization would lead to growth & development of the state.

Ø There are abundance natural resources like limestone as well as water for hydro power potential.

Ø Natural beauty that could attract the tourist trade.

Weaknesses:

Ø &nbs