Commercial clustering of sustainable bamboo species in India.

• Bamboo plays a vital role in social, economic and ecological development in India. • Analyzed dataset of 9000 sample of 27 commercial Indian bamboo species. • Special properties of bamboo helped the industry to grow rapidly. Bamboo, a rapidly growing grass, plays a vital role in social, economic, and ecological development of India. India's big market for bamboo opens up an enormous potential to enhance the quality of life of both urban and rural communities. Bamboo has versatile applications in construction material, pulp ö paper industries, rods, weaving material, plywood, baskets, headgears, environmental regeneration quality, soil binders, food and medicine describing the commercial importance and ecological sustainability of its products. This paper presents details of 27 commercial species of bamboo collected through field studies in India. The market value of different species among all twenty-seven species has been assessed using clustering techniques. The study provides information about the clusters including area of application, turn-over, international imports-exports value of products and supports from State and Central Government and thereby determining their commercial values. The major conclusion leads to the development of an appropriate intervention plans in different industrial areas with respect of marketing and technological upgradation etc. which would also provide a way to strengthen cooperation among clusters regardless of their size of business operation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]