(A DIPR Feature by DPRO Mokokchung)
En masse bamboo flowering, perhaps one of the strangest things to occur in the entire plant world, once in 50 years or so, hit Mokokchung district. The phenomenon of synchronized bamboo flowering in one of the bamboo species Bambusa Pallida, ‘ashi’ in Ao language left huge lush green bamboo forests barren in different parts of the district. Vast bamboo forests of Changki, Mangmetong, Debuia, Lirmen, to name a few, once covered by lush green clumps of ashi transformed into huge inflorescences which is conspicuously noticeable even from far away. Elderly people who have vast knowledge on this unusual occurrence of synchronized bamboo flowering and seeding said that this particular bamboo species of ashi had last flowered in 1962. One of the beliefs associated with bamboo flowering is that a man can witness bamboo flowering only twice in his life time.
While Tzürangkong, Japukong, Changkikong and part of Ongpangkong ranges witnessed massive flowering and seeding, gregarious bamboo flowering of ashi is yet to occur in other parts. Elderly people said that not a single bamboo shoot sprouted from ashi last year thus sending a clear signal that time has come for the phenomenon of the synchronized flowering of ashi to occur and bear wheat-kernel like seeds and die out exactly after 48 years. They said bamboo flowering en masse precipitates the people into famine and sickness as people experienced in the past in different parts of the district when ashi had last flowered. In 1962, in the height of political turmoil, flowering of ashi (Bambusa Pallida) took place in the district resulting in a population explosion of rats and other menacing insects destroying standing crops in the fields in different parts of the district which in turn led to famine. In many villages, it is said in 1962 people relied on wild yam/forest tubers etc. as an alternative to stable food rice. However the famine experienced in the district was not severe as experienced in Mizoram in 1958-59. There was no starvation death nor were people forced to migrate to other places in search of food.
The sickly look and shedding of leafage precursor to the flowering of ashi start after rainy season last year. By January /February 2010 whole clumps of ashi transformed into huge inflorescences and started bearing edible wheat-kernel like seeds and abundantly spread on the floor of the forests leading to attract seeds predators mostly rats to feast.
One of the unusual things associated with flowering of Ashi is that an edible insect (stink bug) known by many Aos as ‘polo’ appeared in many places in the district. In Lirmen, one of the villages of Japukong range, swarms of this insect appeared on a hill top known to them as Polo temen (hill). Similar swarms of the same insect were also reported from Debuia and Mongchen village of Changkikong range. It is said that this particular insect appears/visits (in) the district only when bamboo flowering takes place. It is not known whether the insect is migratory or of local origin.
Imtinuchet of Khar village, who has vast knowledge on the phenomenon of bamboo flowering said that bamboo seeds which fall on the floor of the forest have started germinating turning the forest floor into lush green bamboo seedlings. He said bamboo flowering is always followed by unprecedented increase in wild animals particularly rats and birds as there is plenty of food supply. Report from Debuia village said that there has been increase in the population of jungle fowl following the bamboo flowering.
Though alarming menace of rodent/insect was not reported from anywhere in the district, Agriculture department is closely monitoring the situation. Apprehending increase in rats and other insects’ population, which may cause havoc in jhum fields, the department has conducted rodent management in almost all the villages in the district. District Agriculture Officer, Mokokchung, Bendangtemsu said that there was report of increase in rat population from Mangmetong, Aliba, Longjang and Sungratsu and the department had issued chemicals and local devices to arrest the explosion of rat population.
