Bamboo Technical Support Group South Zone (BTSG - KFRI)

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. It serves 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 through 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 field functionaries of the various southern States for the past several years. We have published handbooks and training manuals on various subjects, such as 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:

1. Taxonomy, identification and phylogeny of bamboo
2. Growth and reproduction of priority species of bamboo
3. Traditional methods of propagation
4. Bamboo nurseries
5. Micropropagation of bamboos
6. Plantation technology and harvesting techniques
7. Germplasm conservation and management
8. Estimation of bamboo resources in homesteads and forests
9. Inventory of bamboo stocking using Remote Sensing and GIS technology
10. Socio-economics and livelihood potential of bamboo
11. Cluster development and livelihood improvement of artisans and farmers
12. Value addition and marketing of bamboo products
13. Preservative treatments
14. Pest and Disease management

BTSG has the mandate to interact with the large community of bamboo researchers, growers, and users in the country, offer authentic technical advice, and act as an interface between the public and government agencies on 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