Top representatives of the Forest departments of the North-east, NGOs and other agencies are attending a two-day regional workshop on "Bamboo flowering: Status and management strategies' which got under way at the Deovan-based Rain Forest Research Institute here today. Several State Forest departments, NGOs, paper corporations and consultants, both national and international, had participated in a similar national-level meet at the same venue in April, 2002. The Planning Commission incorporated the recommendations made at that meet in its document on "National mission on bamboo technology and trade development.' These recommendations have served as guidance for management of bamboo flowering in the north-eastern States in particular and the country as a whole. The present workshop is a sequel to the previous consultation meet and will highlight those issues which did not figure in the last workshop, RFRI research officer Dr TC Bhuyan said. Suggestions and opinions for the development of RFRI as a centre of excellence for bamboo research will also be entertained at the workshop, he added. Recommendations and strategies for future course of action will comprise the agenda for the concluding session of the workshop, slated for tomorrow.

Over one lakh families in Mizoram have been affected by the ongoing shortage of food due to the gregarious bamboo flowering which has triggered a famine like situation in the State. According to official records submitted by Deputy Commissioners of all the eight districts, rural people depending on cultivation have been facing immense hardship due to Mautam while those in urban areas were not spared either, though their sufferings are nominal. Armies of rodents ravaged annual crops like paddy, maize, chili worth Rs 41,138.57 lakh, the report said, adding perennial crops

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