Bamboo Enthusiast's 17-Acre Farm in Kerala Fights Desertification and Promotes Sustainability

In a remote corner of Kerala's Wayanad district, Johnson Varghese, a 53-year-old resident, has turned his passion for bamboo into a thriving 17-acre plantation aimed at combating desertification. Johnson's journey began in 2010 when he discovered a newfound love for bamboo conservation, leading him to explore bamboo-rich regions across India, particularly in the Northeast. Inspired by the diverse bamboo tribes he encountered, Johnson decided to collect and conserve these versatile plants.

With a collection boasting 142 rare bamboo species from different parts of the country, Johnson's plantation includes commercially significant varieties like the fast-growing Guadua angustifolia, the rapid Dendrocalamus brandissi, and the medicinal Melocanna baccifera. Notable ornamental species such as the Golden Bamboo (Schizostachyum brachycladum) and Buddha Belly also find a place in his bamboo haven.

In an exclusive interview with The Better India, Johnson emphasizes the importance of bamboo for a sustainable future. He believes bamboo's rapid growth and diverse applications make it a crucial element in combating desertification. Johnson points out that bamboo absorbs a substantial amount of carbon, produces 35% more oxygen than other plants, and enhances moisture content and organic carbon in the soil.

Despite the potential benefits, Johnson laments the lack of awareness about bamboo's value and its underutilization. He advocates for bamboo farming as an ideal and cost-effective method to counter desertification, citing its versatility in construction, furniture making, biofuel production, fabric, cloth, paper-making, and even as edible food. Additionally, bamboo holds medicinal, religious, and ornamental significance.

As Johnson tends to his lush bamboo forest, he reflects on the resilience of bamboo, likening it to the saying that "the bamboo that bends is stronger than the oak that resists." Having spent months in his bamboo haven, Johnson envisions a world where flexibility and adaptability, much like bamboo, lead to a better and more sustainable future.

Reference:

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