Bamboo Cultivation and Harvesting in Northeast India

India has 136 native bamboo species; the Northeast holds 60% of this diversity. Assam, Mizoram, and Tripura cultivate and harvest Bambusa balcooa, Dendrocalamus hamiltonii, and Melocanna baccifera. Bamboo matures in 3–5 years; clumps can be harvested sustainably every year thereafter by removing outer culms. Traditional harvesting by lunar calendar prevents cracking. Uses: construction poles, mat weaving, pickle (bamboo shoots), paper pulp, charcoal, and biochar. National Bamboo Mission supports FPOs and processing plants. Assam produces 5 million tonnes/year — second only to China.