Department of Information and Public Relations

Press Release No. 135/12

VISIT OF CHIEF MINISTER MEGHALAYA TO TISSUE CULTURE FACILITIES

Shillong, April 14, 2012: As part of the programme of the World Bamboo Congress, the Chief Minister Meghalaya was invited to visit the tissue culture Laboratory of ‘Oprins’ one of the pioneers in the field of bamboo tissue culture. The laboratory, which is the biggest bamboo tissue culture laboratory in the world, is located in the pictureseque village of Rijkevorsel, close to the Netherlands border. The company has two other laboratories, one in South Africa and the other in Indonesia. Each of the laboratories carries out work on different species of bamboo.

Jan Oprins, the Founder President of the company, conducted the Chief Minister and the delegation through a tour of the laboratory and the greenhouses of the company. Amazingly, though located in a region where bamboo does not grow naturally, the facilities at Rijkevorsel are capable of producing about one million bamboo seedlings per year. These seedlings are raised under controlled conditions using the latest technology proving the point that given the will, anything can be achieved even in adverse conditions. The environmentally conscious company also ensures that it uses only rain water for irrigation and all the runoff, after watering the plants, is saved and recycled, making the maximum utilization of every drop of water. These seedlings, mostly for ornamental purposes, are in high demand throughout Europe.

Tissue culture grown bamboo seedlings have many advantages over other vegetative methods of propagation. High quality and disease-free bamboo planting material can be produced on a large scale throughout the year by tissue culture. The seedlings are small in size thus reducing transportation costs. Dr. Mukul Sangma expressed his hope that the use of such technological innovations can make bamboo an economically viable crop which can improve the livelihood of the people.

With the present consciousness about climate change, there is a growing need to reduce dependence on fossil fuels. Bamboo, being a fast growing plant, can therefore play a major role in filling this need as it is an ideal material for biomass energy. Bamboo charcoal can be produced in larger quantities with minimal environmental effects carrying with it the possibility of revolutionizing the traditional understanding of charcoal.

Bamboo is also being tested for use, or is already being used, in many non-traditional applications like furniture, roofing, garments and even in the automobile industry. Being cheap, quick growing and light, bamboo opens up immense possibilities today.

The Government of Meghalaya would actively explore the possibility of a PPP project with companies like Oprins, so as introduce innovative practices in order to meet the growing need for new materials to satisfy a world with ever increasing demands.