Bamboos flower every year. But, most of the species flower at intervals as long as 65 or 120 years. The longest mass flowering interval known is 130 years, and is found for all the species.
Since the time of Mahabharata, this mass flowering is believed to be followed by a famine in various regions. People in ancient India believed that whenever mass flowering happens, severe scarcity of food grains would occur in the next 2-3 years. North-eastern state's 70% of agriculture is dependent on Bamboo. And in those days, even Burma was part of India. So, if a famine occurs in this region, whole of India would be severely affected.
It was in 1958, when it mass-flowered in North-east. The local Mizo District Council cautioned the Assam government of an famine. However, the Assam government rejected the cautions on the grounds that it was not scientific. It will be interesting to know that a famine did occur in the region in 1961.
When bamboo plants flower, they produce a large volume of seeds. These seeds are a source of food for many predators, especially rats. As the mass-flowering produce huge amount of seeds, rats are attracted to such an area. When they begin consuming such protein-rich seeds, they multiply rapidly. Since the supply of bamboo seeds is limited, when the supply falls down, the rats divert their attention to standing crops, rice, potatoes etc. As a result, the local farmers, who are fully dependant on agriculture are subject to famine. This problem is so severe that many hectares of crop will be destroyed in just few months.
When this reason was traced out, local administration started some good initiatives like introducing a reward scheme of Rs. 100 for every 100 rats that were killed etc. The farmers were supposed to produce the killed rat to claim the reward. When the most recent cycle of bamboo flowering in the region began, villagers were killing about 5 lakh rats a year. By the time the flowering peaked up, the number had risen to 2.6 million rats killed each year.
Then the government thought of another solution for this problem since killing the rats cannot be the only solution and it may in-turn affect the Eco-balance and the food chain. The government asked the farmers to plant the crops which cannot be eaten by the rats in the flowering period. These crops include ginger, turmeric etc.
Meanwhile, in other regions of India where there are no Bamboo plantations, the central government will concentrate on increasing the stocks of food. Since then, we have handled such famines properly.
It was in 1958, when it mass-flowered in North-east. The local Mizo District Council cautioned the Assam government of an famine. However, the Assam government rejected the cautions on the grounds that it was not scientific. It will be interesting to know that a famine did occur in the region in 1961.
What is the connection between Bamboo-mass flowering and a famine?
When bamboo plants flower, they produce a large volume of seeds. These seeds are a source of food for many predators, especially rats. As the mass-flowering produce huge amount of seeds, rats are attracted to such an area. When they begin consuming such protein-rich seeds, they multiply rapidly. Since the supply of bamboo seeds is limited, when the supply falls down, the rats divert their attention to standing crops, rice, potatoes etc. As a result, the local farmers, who are fully dependant on agriculture are subject to famine. This problem is so severe that many hectares of crop will be destroyed in just few months.
When this reason was traced out, local administration started some good initiatives like introducing a reward scheme of Rs. 100 for every 100 rats that were killed etc. The farmers were supposed to produce the killed rat to claim the reward. When the most recent cycle of bamboo flowering in the region began, villagers were killing about 5 lakh rats a year. By the time the flowering peaked up, the number had risen to 2.6 million rats killed each year.
Then the government thought of another solution for this problem since killing the rats cannot be the only solution and it may in-turn affect the Eco-balance and the food chain. The government asked the farmers to plant the crops which cannot be eaten by the rats in the flowering period. These crops include ginger, turmeric etc.
Meanwhile, in other regions of India where there are no Bamboo plantations, the central government will concentrate on increasing the stocks of food. Since then, we have handled such famines properly.
nice topic..!! :)
ReplyDeletehere's mine.. posted just before you did..
http://mycanon123.blogspot.com/2011/08/cats-on-roof.html
Thanks Macha :-)
ReplyDeleteyeah have seen that.. :D