| The ARCBR
was established in Aizawl (Mizoram) as a
unit of the Rain Forest Research
Institute, Jorhat as per the decisions
of Standing Finance Committee, Ministry
of Environment & Forest, Govt. of India
in its meeting dated 26th August 2004.
The Centre was formally started with
the foundation stone laid by Hon’ble
Minister of State Shri Namo Narayan
Meena, Environment and Forests, Govt. of
India on 29th Nov. 2004 at Bethlehem
Vengthlang, Aizawl.
The centre
is first of its kind in India for
socioe-conomic upliftment of
Northeastern people that revolve around
Bamboos and Rattans.
Objectives
The
ARCBR is mandated to conduct advance
research on Bamboo & Rattan with regard
to:
·
Conservation and
Sustainable Utilization.
·
Establishment of
Germplasm Bank of Bamboo and Canes.
·
Establishment of
Bamboosetum and Canetum.
·
Nursery technology
including Cultivation practices.
·
Macro and Micro
propagation.
·
Genetic improvement –
Clonal garden, certification etc.
·
Technology for value
addition, edible shoot processing, etc.
·
Product development
including bamboo composites
·
Bamboo based
tools/machines for Bamboo working.
·
Extension of bamboo based
knowledge and technologies to
stakeholders.
Jurisdiction
The Centre is aimed cater
the bamboo and rattan related research
needs of all the eight northeastern
states viz., Arunachal Pradesh, Assam,
Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland,
Tripura and Sikkim. In addition, the
Centre is entrusted to support various
research activities of RFRI in Mizoram,
Tripura and Barak Valley of Assam
states.
Human Resource
The total sanctioned manpower for the Centre is as
follows:
|
Scientist |
5 |
|
Research Officer |
1 |
|
Admin Officer |
1 |
|
Finance Officer |
1 |
|
Lab Assistant |
3 |
|
Office Assistant |
2 |
|
Store in charge |
1 |
However, in accordance with sanctioned manpower, placement
of scientists and staffs is yet to be
done.
Organizational Structure
The Centre is headed by a Head. In
addition, two DCFs belonging to the
Mizoram State Forest Service are posted
on deputation. For operationalization of
the office and field works, total 9
(Nine) contractual staffs have been
engaged. The present organizational set
up is as follows:
1.
Dr. Y.C. Tripathi, Scientist ‘E’ – Head
2.
Shri Kalpataru Kar, DCF
3.
Shri Lalnunsanga
Khawlhring, DCF
Shri Shri Lalnunsanga
Khawlhring, DCF is also acting as DDO
and overall i/c of Stores in addition to
his normal duties.
Contractual
Staffs:
|
i. |
Office Assistant |
1 |
|
ii |
Computer Operator |
1 |
|
iii |
Accountant |
1 |
|
iv |
Driver |
1 |
|
v |
Peon |
1 |
|
vi |
Chowkidar |
1 |
|
vii |
Field workers |
3 |
Infrastructure
The ARCBR is still in the stage of
establishment. Presently the Centre is
housed in a rented building at Kulikawn,
Aizawl. The Centre has acquired about
11.63 ha land at Bethlehem Vengthlang,
Aizawl for establishment of office cum
laboratory complex, Farmers’ Hostels,
Residential quarters, Model Nursery,
etc. The area is divided into three
blocks i.e. A (1.39 ha), B (8.26 ha) & C
(1.98 ha). Presently the Office cum
Laboratory building and Farmer’s hostel
are being established in Block B
and residential quarters in Block-A. All
construction works are being done by
CPWD at Bethlehem Vengthlang, Aizawl
Establishment of Research Station:
The Centre will be acquiring shortly 100
ha of land at Khamrang (Kawnpui) near
Aizawl for establishment of its Field
Research Station. The proposal for
allotment of the same which was
submitted to
Govt. of Mizoram through
Environment and Forest Department,
Mizoram has been recently approved by
the State Cabinet.
Research Activities
Ongoing Project Activities
1. Validation of Micropropagated Bamboo through
Multi-locational Trial
With the objective to test and validate
the field performance of micro
propagated bamboo,
locational trial and demo plantation of
in-vitro propagated plants of
three commercially important bamboo
species viz., Bambusa balcooa,
B. nutans and Dandrocalamus
hemiltonii have been laid out at
Tuiral, under Aizawl Forest Division
covering 20 ha area under the DBT
sponsored project.
2.
Selection of superior clones of
Bamboo for restocking of flowered areas
Evaluation Trials of clonal materials
collected from selected plus clumps of
five bamboo species viz., Bambusa
balcooa, B. nutans, B. pallida,
B. tulda and Dandrocalamus
hemiltonii have been laid out at two
places, i.e., Tuiral, Aizawl Sadar under
Aizawl Forest Division and Kharjawl,
Vairangte under Kolasib Forest Division
in Mizoram State so as to select best
clone in terms of optimum performance,
high productivity and suitable end-use
linked physicochemical traits. The work
is a component of MoEF sponsored
project.
3.
Establishment of Genepool Nursery and Genebank
Superior clumps of some commercially
important bamboos have been selected
from different parts of the northeast
and clonal materials have been
collected. A Genepool Nursery has been
established in the premises of ARCBR at
Bethlehem Vengthlang, Aizawl wherein the
clonal materials are being raised and
multiplied for production of quality
planting stock.
4. Establishment of Genebank
The Centre will be establishing a
Genebank within its premises at
Bethlehem Vengthlang, Aizawl that will
be a collection of genetically superior
bamboos and will serves as source of
best bamboo material for propagation,
multiplication and large scale
cultivation.
5. Documentation of baseline
information on shifting cultivation and
restoration of stressed sites.
6. Appraisal of tree-crop
association under shifting cultivation
7. Establishment of Van Vigyan
Kendra
For establishment of Van Vigyan Kendra
in Mizoram State, liaison has been
established with Environment and Forest
Department of Mizoram and Nodal officer
has been assigned. For implementation of
VVK related activities by the E&F Deptt.,
a Nodal Officer (NO) has been assigned
and a committee has been constituted
under the chairmanship of the
PCCF-Mizoram. Site has been selected and
procurement of stores has been done by
the NO concerned for establishment of
model nursery. Nursery establishment
works and extension activities are yet
to be started.
Research Projects Submitted
All India Coordinated Project on Bamboo
In consonance with the recommendations of National
Conference on “All India Coordinated
Project on Bamboo” following Project
Concepts have been submitted for
implementation by the Centre under the
Coordinated Project on Bamboo:
1.
Survey, inventorization and
documentation of application based
traditional knowledge of Bamboos in
Mizoram, Tripura and Barak Valley of
Assam.
2.
Ex-situ conservation of genetically
superior germplasms of commercially
important bamboos of Mizoram, Tripura
and Barak Valley of Assam.
3.
Standardization of macropropagation
techniques for mass multiplication of
selected bamboo species of Mizoram.
4.
Development and demonstration of
bamboo based agroforestry models
suitable for different agro-climatic
zones of Mizoram.
5.
Assessment of bamboo flowering in
Mizoram for development of management,
monitoring and prediction strategies.
ICFRE Normal Plan Project
A new research project proposal entitled “Conservation of
superior germplasm of commercially
significant Bamboo and Rattans species
of Mizoram” has been submitted to ICFRE
HQ for approval and sanction.
Extramural Projects
A project entitled “Diversity enrichment
and genetic resource conservation of
Bamboos and Rattans in Mizoram state of
Northeast India” has been submitted to
Ministry of Environment and Forests for
external funding.
ICFRE-INBAR Project
ARCBR is one of the implementing
partners of the ICFRE-INBAR project “Programmes
to enhance national and local capacities
to maximize the opportunities offered by
the bamboo flowering in India” to be
commenced shortly.
Projected Activities under Pipeline Projects
§
Establishment of Bambusetum of superior
germplasm of commercially significant
Bamboos.
§
Establishment of Canatum of various
Rattan species.
§
Establishment of Modern high-tech Bamboo
and Rattan Nursery
§
Establishment of Demonstration plots of
bamboo based agroforestry models.
§
Studies for improved understanding of
the impact of bamboo flowering on the
ecosystem
§
Development of impact amelioration
models.
§
Creation of database for monitoring and
prediction of bamboo flowering.
§
Possibility exploration for development
of genetically improved Bamboos through
hybridization.
§
Documentation of indigenous
knowledge/practices on cultivation,
harvesting, post harvest processing,
utilization and flowering of bamboo.
Extension Activities
·
Publication of extension literatures on
various aspects of Bamboo and Rattans.
·
On-site training programmes for
empowerment of people.
·
Tailor-made training modules for
different categories of stakeholders.
·
Establishment of demonstration models
·
Awareness generation campaigns.
|
ICFRE
has been implementing programmes aimed at
holistic development of forestry research,
education and extension for sustainable
management and development of forestry
resources in the country.