B amboo is one of the important non-timber forest products (NTFPs) cultivated widely in the world (FAO, 1978). It has intimately been associated with human beings since time unknown. In Nepal, bamboos are found in almost all its parts–natural or cultivated with twelve genera and more than ifty-three species (Stapleton, 1994; Karki et al., 1995; Das, 1999; Joshi and Amatya 1999; Das, 2004).They are the important component of rural farming system and play a critical role in rural economy helping to sustain livelihoods of the many rural households that include socially and economically disadvantaged group (Das, 1992; Thapa et al., 1998; Das, 1999). Cultivation of bamboos is a common practice on private farmlands. The multi-purpose species has been increasingly introduced in community forests (Das, 2002). Bamboo entrepreneurship is one of the key instruments for the upliftment of socio-economic status of poor and under privileged people in Nepal. Bamboo craft makers design various bamboo architectures in assistance with simple basic tools prepared locally. An estimation of about 3.3 million farming families are somehow involved with bamboo sub-sector either as producers or as users of bamboo- based products (Pant, 2006). Development and encouragement of cottage industries based on bamboo thus have a very high potential of providing the locals with much needed cash income and making a very important contribution to their household economy (Poudyal, 1992; Karki et al., 1995; Sherchan et al., 1996). Further, it can contribute to the regional and national economy. However, due to the lack of conducive policy and government’s Socio-economic impacts of bamboo enterprises in the Mid-hills of Nepal: A case study on Pahari community at Badikhel Village, Lalitpur M. Shakya Bajracharya 1 , S. Rajbhandary 2 and A.N. Das 3 The present study investigates the associate enterprises involving bamboo- based weaving and handicraft making at Badikhel Village Development Commitee, Lalitpur District, Central Nepal. It aims to assess the socio-economic importance of bamboo craft making on Pahari community at Badikhel. Forty households were randomly selected for questionnaire survey from the areas with higher density of bamboo entrepreneurship practiced. Perceived stakeholders were interviewed to examine their roles and to ind out the contribution of bamboo enterprises to household income. Group discussions on issues of bamboo cultivation and management were conducted following RRA and PRA techniques. It was found that Badikhel impregnates four species of bamboo belonging to two genera viz. Bambusa and Drepanostachyum and are important and traditional source of livelihood for the Paharis, one of the ethnic groups in the study area. An average bamboo handicraft maker obtained NRs. 1000 to NRs. 5000 per month from the cash sales of assorted handicrafts. However, no signiicant bamboo management practices were carried out by the entrepreneurs. Three out of four community managed forests in the study area planted only Bambusa nepalensis as per local demand. Since stakeholders’ involvement in actual promotion of bamboo handicraft industry and bamboo management is meager there is an urgent need for the formation of a larger association of bamboo users for the growth and development of the bamboo entrepreneurship in the area. Key words: Socio-economics, bamboo entrepreneurship, Paharis, Bambusa, Drepanostachyum 1 St. Mary’s College, Kathmandu, Nepal. E-mail: merinashk@hotmail.com 2 Central Department of Botany, Kathmandu, Nepal. 3 Department of Plant Resources, Kathmandu, Nepal. 19