Abstract

Homesteads in Kerala are a source of bamboo resources. The species most commonly found is Bambusa arundinacea. Other species like B. vulgaris and Dendrocalamus strictus are sparsely found in homesteads. A sample survey with a stratified three-stage sampling procedure has been conducted to gather information on the extent of area occupied by bamboo, stocking, density and availability in the homesteads as well as on the quantity of bamboo used for construction and other purposes by the household sector in Kerala. The results of the survey indicate that bamboo occupies an area of 581 ha with 39 million culms in the homesteads. The harvest during the year 1987-88 was 9. 1 percent of the growing stock. It also reveals that the quantity of bamboo used during 1987-88 was around 3. 2 million culms mainly for house construction and as a support for the banana crop