Art Decor' Bamboo

Timeless light

Timezen

WHO is Talking

Look into it....

VRINDAVAN

crossover

Hang on there.......

As thin as it can get...

Cheerapunji

BLACK.cadillac

PARDON.forgive


     ALL OF THIS IS MADE OUT OF WASTE BAMBOO MATERIALS COLLECTED FROM ALL OVER THE PLACE 

Chemical Bamboo Preservation

Chemical bamboo preservation (with or without the help of special equipment) ensures long term protection. Depending upon the method of bamboo treatment, chemical preservatives can impart short term or long term protection.

With a few exceptions, chemical preservatives to protect bamboo against biological attacks and degradation are toxic. Selection and application has to be done with great care to meet performance, environment requirements and safetly.

Depending upon the carrier solvents, bamboo preservatives are divided into 2 different categories: Non-fixing and fixing type preservatives. Non-fixing preservatives will leach out the bamboo when exposed to rain. In other words non-fixing type preservatives are NOT suited for outdoor use.

Non-Fixing Type Preservatives

Non-fixing bamboo preservatives mainly consist of boron salts, which are effective against borers, termites and fungi (except soft rot fungi). These boron salts are dissolved in water. After treatment, the water evaporates leaving the salts inside the bamboo. They are not toxic and can be used for treating bamboo products like baskets, dry containers, etc. which come in contact with food products.

Boric Acid Borax

Curing bamboo with borax and boric acid is the most popular bamboo preservation method (for indoor use) around the world because it is effective and more environmentally friendly than other wood preservatives.

The combination of boric acid and borax in a ratio of 1:1.5 is an alkaline salt called: Disodium octaborate tetrahydrate (Na2B8O13 x 4H2O) and is available in pre-mixed powder form.Disodium octaborate tetrahydrate is a white, odorless, powdered substance that is not flammable, cumbustible, or explosive and has acute low oral and dermal toxicity. The product itself is fire retardent and shows no hazardous decomposition.

This salt, is used as an insecticide and fungicide, and is also effective against fungi and algae. It has an infinite shelf life and is not affected by temperature. Diluted with water, bamboo can be impregnated, submerged or sprayed with this chemical.

Formula (1): boric acid / borax ratio 1:1.5

Formula (2): boric acid / borax / sodium dichromate ratio 2:2:0.5

Recommended concentration:

• 4-5% indoor use (not exposed to weather or ground contact)

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* How to Interpret the Terms: 'Ratio' and 'Concentration'?

The ratio of the chemical solution is based on kilograms per 100 liters of water.

For example, if you see this:

• boric acid / borax / sodium dichromate
• ratio 2:2:0.5

It actually means this:

• a mixture of 2 kg of boric acid / 2 kg of borax / 500 gr of sodium dichromate in 100 liters of water.

The above example is the equivalent of 4,5% concentration. If you want to ramp this up to a concentration of 9% you just have to double the mixture like this:

• a mixture of 4 kg of boric acid / 4 kg of borax / 1 kg of sodium dichromate in 100 liters of water.

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Fixing Type Preservatives

These chemical bamboo preservation formulations are proportionate mixtures of different salts which interact with each other in the presence of bamboo and become chemically fixed. In principle, the degree of fixation and efficacy depends upon the nature of the components and their combination and concentration.

For example, Chromium is responsible for fixation, copper is effective against decay fungi and soft rot and the third compound acts against insect and fungus. The process of fixation requires some weeks during which the material should be stored under cover. Slow fixation is preferred in case of bamboo as it allows diffusion and better distribution of preserving salts.

Copper Chrome Arsenic (CCA)

CCA is a heavy duty broad spectrum chemical bamboo preservative patented as AsCu. It has been found to provide protection for 50 years or more. Outdoor use is recommended only due to the arsenic component, which can also causes a green coloration on the bamboo.

Formula:

• arsenic pentoxide / copper sulphate / sodium dichromate
• ratio 1:3:4

Recommended concentration:

• 6% outdoor use (structures exposed to weather but not in contact with ground)
• 10% outdoor use (structures exposed to weather and in ground contact)

Copper Chrome Boron (CCB)

CCB is a broad spectrum chemical bamboo preservative and a good alternative to CCA, but less effective with a lower degree of fixation, because of the boron component.

Formula:

• boric acid / copper sulphate / sodium dichromate
• ratio 1.5:3:4

Recommended concentration:

• 6-8% indoor use (not exposed to weather or ground contact)
• 8-10% outdoor use (structures exposed to weather and in ground contact)

Zinc Chrome

Zinc Chloride is highly hygroscopic and treated bamboo will give a wet look in rainy season. This can adversely help paints and other finishes.

Formula:

• Zinc chloride / sodium dichromate
• ratio 1:1

Recommended concentration:

• 10% outdoor use (structures exposed to weather and in ground contact)

Copper Chrome Acetic

Formula:

• copper sulphate / sodium dichromate / acetic acid
• ratio 5.6:5.6:0.25

Recommended concentration:

• 8% outdoor use (structures exposed to weather and in ground contact)

Fire Retardant Preservative

This treatment is intended to protect materials against fire as well as decay and insect attack.

Formula:

• boric acid / copper sulphate / zinc chloride / sodium dichromate
• ratio 3:1:5:6

Recommended concentration:

• 25% indoor and outdoor use

Oily Preservatives: Creosote

It is a broad spectrum bamboo preservative and is a cost effective chemical for treatment for exterior applications. It has been used for treating railway sleepers and wooden poles.

Coal tar and creosote available from coal is a dark brown viscous liquid. Creosote should be used exclusively for pressure processes or hot and cold treatment. Being oily, it imparts water repellence to the treated material. It is effective against fungal and insect attack. Due to its dark brown color and bad odor, its use is restricted to exterior applications, especially in contact with mud/ ground.

Light Organic Solvent-based Preservatives (LOSP)

These are slightly more expensive bamboo preservatives where the organic solvent acts as a carrier for toxic molecules and later evaporates, leaving the active ingredients behind. They are available commercially in ready-to-use forms. A good formulation is an appropriate mixture of fungicides and insecticides. There is little change of color of the treated material but a residual odor may remain for some time. The method of use will be recommended by the manufacturer. Formulations available in concentrates are more economical to use.

Trichlorophenol (TCP)

It is a more eco friendly substitute for Pentachlorophenol. Ready to use (5%) solution of this fungicide along with insecticides for broad spectrum performance are commercially available. Concentrates which can be diluted with mineral turpentine oil are more economical for industrial use.

Copper/Zinc soaps

They have emerged as alternatives to other organic preservatives which cause environmental hazards. Napthenates of copper and zinc are most common (metallic soaps). They are available as ready-to-use formulations containing appropriate amounts of insecticides. They are slightly more expensive than TCP formulations. However, they are more eco-friendly and also have no pungent smell.

Sources: The National Mission on Bamboo Applications (NMBA)

ANALYTICAL RESEARCH ON PACE AND QUALITY OF GROWTH OF BAMBOO INDUSTRY

A SHORT NOTE ON IDENTIFICATION, DEFINITION AND JUSTIFICATION OF AN IN-DEPTH AND ANALYTICAL RESEARCH ON PACE AND QUALITY OF GROWTH OF BAMBOO INDUSTRY vis-a-vis VARIOUS INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT SERVICES IN THE NORTH EASTERN REGION

By Sanjive Deta Chetri Sharma

(Bambosorus)   

_________________________________________________________________________________

The Research Problem

PROBLEM SITUATION

Handloom and Handicraft are not only the mirrors of the country’s heritage and culture but also possess vast potential for rural income generation. Yet, the most noticeable characteristic of these two sectors is that they are highly unorganized and informal. Further, the artisans, who have toiled hard to give the country a place in the world map however live in very deplorable socioeconomic conditions.  Most of the national award winning craftsmen whose exquisite crafts have helped India earn a place high amongst those in the world are even barely capable of finding their subsistence.

Against this backdrop, since the last century a good number of support programs and experimental projects have been launched in our country by a host of government, semi-government and non-government agencies (both domestic and international) with a view to upgrading these sectors to commercially viable industries and thereby create rural employment. But even after completion of a decade from the turn of the century general feeling, especially among the artisans themselves, is that even though all the programs and projects undertaken so far by government and various other organizations have, no doubt, brought about many positive changes in these sectors they are still far from creating the desired impact.

Problem Definition

Handloom and Handicrafts have been playing an important role in the economies of the NE states. According to a study sponsored by NEDFi (2002), NE contributes 19.18% of total number of handicrafts units in India, 21.71% in terms of artisans and 79.58% in terms of value of production. Every 14^th person in the NER is dependent on handloom and handicraft products for livelihood. On an average 80% of the total income of those engaged in handloom and handicrafts sector comes from this sector. From another angle, this sector provides more than 90% of livelihood to around 61% of the total artisan households in the region.  Every state in the region has some unique items of production that have been highly appreciated within the country as well as abroad. Handloom and handicrafts products from the NE are supposed to have excellent brand value.

Despite, In Assam, for that matter in the entire north eastern region, the handicraft sector has always been suffering from the above problem situation and it is more pronounced in bamboo sector as this sector accounts for the largest share of the entire handicraft industry in the region.

Handicraft industry of Assam and other north eastern states is still plagued with the conditions identified by the planners of our economy during the early part of the post independent period. Commercial scale of production of handicrafts has not really begun in the region. Just a simple review will reveal that

1.    Factor conditions are not yet upgraded or enriched to the required level

2.    Demand conditions are yet to be met and competitive advantage is never created

3.    Related and supporting industries have never come forward or felt encouraged to produce inputs which are important and cost efficient for innovation and internationalization.

4.    Sectoral strategies and structures have not been geared to face competitiveness.

5.    The artisans are never empowered to deal with the chance events

As a result, the handicraft sector of the region can still be characterized by

·         Old skills and traditional technology

                                                                                                                            

·         High capital output ratio due to inefficiency of production system

·         Weak marketing power of the artisans (both at the selling and buying points) and presence of and dependence on a large number of intermediaries at various levels leading to market depressing producer-end user relationship 

·         Under developed or non-existent linkages

·         Minimum or non usage of new information and knowledge

·         Absence of non-farm policy

·         Poor industrial culture (i.e. product design, quality management, packaging, branding, certification etc.)

·         Inability to withstand competition

·         High dependence on informal financial sector for credit and other financial services

 

The Problem Question and Rationale of the Research

The government and other organizations pride themselves on providing high-quality, need based support services to ameliorate the situation discussed above. Their service programs are meticulously and scientifically designed, programs are both comprehensive and diverse, service providing human resource is well trained, number of support organizations is more than enough and flow of financial resource is well sufficient.

In spite of above the handicraft sector in the north eastern region has not, till today, come out of the nascence and emerged as a full grown and inseparable segment of the industrial scenario. Moreover, the artisans are still reeling under poverty, ill health, illiteracy and ignorance.

So the glaring poser is—What went wrong?!

An array of factors can contribute to the situation; from ill conceived plans, top down, non-participatory and non -holistic approach to detachment with ground realities to not-so-coordinated actions and duplication of support programs to the reasons yet to be discovered.  

The situation certainly demands an in-depth and highly analytical study on the pace and quality of the growth of handicraft industry vis-a-vis available support services in the north eastern region.   

Purpose of the study

·         To carry out a Craft Production Process Documentation

·         To undertake an across-the-board value chain mapping exercise from identification of the actors in the cluster involved in the business of craft production and sales to raw material suppliers, master craftsmen, traders and other intermediaries.

·         To assess the status of factor conditions, demand conditions and competitive advantage of the industry.

·         To gauge the extent of contribution of related and supporting industries towards innovation and internationalization.

·         To review government’s sectoral strategies and structures in view of competitiveness.

·         To undertake a survey of artisans to create demographic profiles of artisans and ancillary workers, including their geographic locations, existing and possible clusters and economic conditions.

·         To critically examine the effectiveness of various support services extended so far by government and other organizations

·         To offer recommendations/suggestions for future roadmap.

___________________________________________________________________

If all stake holders are in agreement with the above discussion a detailed research proposal with special focus on bamboo sector can be prepared and presented for sponsorship.