i-STED-KFRI Bamboo/Cane Entrepreneurship Development Programme

Kerala Forest Research Institute (KFRI) is a multidisciplinary team of experts conducting research on tropical forests and forestry. This Institute has contributed significantly to research in tropical forestry and biodiversity conservation over the past three decades of its existence. Founded in 1975, Institute is envisioned as a Centre of Excellence in Tropical Forestry to provide scientific support for decision making on matters related to forestry, with particular emphasis on conservation, sustainable utilization and scientific management of natural resources. KFRI became a part of the Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment (KSCSTE) along with five other R&D Centres of the State, when the KSCSTE was constituted in 2002. 

For the last two decades, KFRI has been actively doing a considerable amount of R & D works in bamboo. Starting from Institute Plan funds, bamboo project support developed to National agencies like the Ministry of Textiles (Handicrafts Development), National Bamboo Mission (NBM) to International Agencies like the IDRC, INBAR, UNDP etc. and topics from nursery to plantations, harvesting and utilization and marketing. KFRI scientists were always doing rigorous research on bamboos resulted hundreds of research publications in national and international status peer reviewed journals and as technical research reports, State – Art Reports, Compendiums, Handbooks and Information Bulletins, etc. Research results were validated by raising ordinary and high-tech nurseries and plantations and were able to plant bamboo in many public places. We were getting continued support from the NBM during the last few years and our bamboo research team became established unbeatable is our strength. Our own innovations and technologies developed in both plantation and value-added utilization sector adds to our strength.