Abstract

Although bamboo has been utilized by people in India from time immemorial, systematic research on bamboo started only a century ago. As the importance of bamboo has been recognized, work is being carried out in different parts of the country to assess the resources available, to improve the yield, to come up with mass propagation techniques, to determine the physical and strength properties, to improve the utilization potential, to understand the socio-economic implications of the depleting bamboo resources, etc. This paper highlights the research carried out in the 1980's in the various research institutions, laboratories, universities, forest departments of various States, etc. A coordinated effort, to fill the information gap, to avoid duplication of effort, to provide easy access to the database, is essential to take the fruits of research to the common man