Bamboo Technical Support Group South Zone (BTSG - KFRI)

The Bamboo Technical Support Group is hosted at KFRI and supported by the National Bamboo Mission of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers welfare to serve as a unit providing support to the National Bamboo Cell in technical and research matters. BTSGs , of which there are three in the country - the other two being at FRI, Dehra Dun and CBTC, Guwahati, cater to the different regions and offer training in resource enhancement though propagation technology, establishment and management of plantations, value addition of bamboo produce through preservative treatment and proper utilization for various end uses, advice to farmers and State Bamboo Missions on suitability of species for different regions and land types etc.

BTSG KFRI has been involved in training of field functionaries of the various southern States for the past several years. We have brought out handbooks and training manuals on various subjects like taxonomy and identification, propagation and nursery technology, establishment and management of plantations and value addition through mechanization and preservative treatment.

The BTSG KFRI team consists of scientists of KFRI and project staff working on several aspects of the biology, cultivation and utilization of bamboo and documentation and dissemination of information. KFRI has the expertise in the following areas relating to bamboo:

Taxonomy, identification and phylogeny of bamboo
Growth and reproduction of priority species of bamboos
Traditional methods of propagation
Bamboo nurseries
Micropropagation of bamboos
Plantation technology and harvesting techniques
Germplasm conservation and management
Estimation of bamboo resources in homesteads and forests
Inventory of bamboo stocking using Remote Sensing and GIS technology
Socio-economics and livelihood potential of bamboo
Cluster development and livelihood improvement of artisans and farmers
Value addition and marketing of bamboo products
Preservative treatments
Pest and Disease management

The BTSG KFRI Team

Dr. V.B.Sreekumar : Coordinator, BTSG, Taxonomy, Bamboo Plantation, Propagation
Dr. V. Anitha : Associate Coordinator, Socio economic studies, livelihood assessment
Dr. T.K. Dhamodaran : Preservative treatment, Primary processing, Value addition
Dr.U.M .Chandrashekara : Resource estimation, Productivity, Plantation management
Mrs.Sarojam , Bamboo Information Centre, Bamboo bibliography
Mr.V.P.Raveendran : Propagation, Nursery management, Training
Dr. PKC Pillai , Seed biology, Bambusetum
Dr. GE Mallikarjunaswamy, Bamboo diseases , Nursery Management
Dr. KV Mohammed Kunhi, Extension & Training
Dr.A.V. Raghu : Extension
Dr. Suma Arun Dev : Biotechnology, DNA barcoding, Phylogeny

BTSG has the mandate to interact with the large community of bamboo researchers, growers and users in the country, to offer authentic technical advice, and to act as an interface between the public and the government agencies for matters that help improve policy.

An exclusive website, "BambooInfo.in" for bamboo information including bamboo species, cultivation, activities of BTSG-KFRI, and a database of artisans, researchers, farmers, plantations and nurseries is maintained by BTSG-KFRI. Visit the website https://www.bambooinfo.in

Contact: Coordinator, BTSG -KFRI,
KFRI Peechi - 680 653, Thrissur. Kerala
Mobile: 9446505286

Tel: +91-487-2690382
e-mail: btsg@kfri.res.in