Chizokho Vero
Kohima | September 7
In a major boost for Naga entrepreneurs, bamboo products from Nagaland have finally touched the soil of Belgium and Vietnam. Source told The Morung Express that through the effort of the Nagaland Bamboo Development Agency (NBDA), different types of bamboo products from Uniqraft and Concept Toys in Kohima have reached Belgium and Vietnam.
Products from the unit, consisting of toy trucks, ants, bikes, ships and plane crafts entirely made of bamboo are being put up for exhibition and sale at the ongoing National Handloom Expo 2009 here at the 16th Assam Rifles ground. It exacted high admiration from visitors since September 5. An innovative design of a toy bike is sold at Rs. 900 and a ship at Rs.15000. The unit had earlier exhibited its products at the much-hyped Hornbill festival of Nagaland and North East Expo in New Delhi.
Uniqraft and Concept Toys were established with the main intention of encouraging and developing the creative potential of the people of North East India. It intends to strengthen the bond between the various communities of North East India through the medium of craft, to promote the use of sustainable materials and to introduce innovative designs and ideas for improving the economy of the people. It is learned that Uniqraft will also study and promote traditional craft skills of the North East India populace.
According to Nagaland Bamboo Development Agency, Naga people have survived through the centuries with the diverse and varied uses of bamboo and its products. “From the cutting of the umbilical cord to the mats that have wrapped the dead for burial, bamboo has been integral to the life of the Nagas. It continues to play a predominant role in the life of the people even today in every walk of life that ranges from agricultural tools and implements to shelter, food, and livelihood,” NBDA said.
Bamboo, the fastest growing and highest yielding renewable natural resource, and found extensively all over the state, constitutes one of the most important resources of Nagaland which has to be put to use in the present day context for the benefit, growth and development of the people. Stating that the denudation of forest cover, degradation of environment and fast-deteriorating ecology threatens the very existence of man and animal, the agency observed that the development of the natural bamboo resources of Nagaland will greatly add to the environment and the ecological balance of the land, consequently having great impact on the quality of life of the people.
“A planned, scientific and holistic approach to the cultivation and management of bamboos on a sustained basis can be an inexhaustible source of goods and services and can play a significant role in the development of the state,” it said.
Also stating that with increasing demand of timber and wood which is becoming a scarce commodity in the world, NBDA viewed that bamboos can serve as an alternative to many of the forest products. Its wide range of uses and its great versatility qualifies it to be a multiple use alternative to timber which will add greatly to the rural agricultural economy in general and act as poverty alleviator for the rural poor in particular.
As envisaged in the mission statement of the State Bamboo Policy for implementation of bamboo development, the Agency has been involved in various diverse fields of bamboo related product development.
Two bamboo test plots established one in Pfutsero and another in Kohima, a bamboo Septum/Park being set up at NBRC complex, six central nurseries in public sector and 10 (ten) central nurseries in private sector established each with 50,000 seedlings capacity, two vegetative propagation units being set up at Dimapur and Zunheboto respectively, 20 Kisan and Mahila nurseries each with a capacity of 5000 seedlings established, 500 hectares new bamboo plantation undertaken during 2006, 3892 hectares new bamboo plantations taken up during 2007, 7500 hectares new bamboo plantation to be taken up during 2008, target to take up 50,000 hectares by the end of the 12th five year plan, management of existing stock taken up in 3242 hectares during 2007, Management of existing stock to be taken up in 2500 hectares during 2008, conducted training of bamboo farmers on scientific plantation methods, management and harvesting techniques covering all the villages taking up bamboo plantations.
Also Nagaland Bamboo Resource Centre (NBRC) was inaugurated at Dimapur in 2007. The Centre has been conceptualize and established as a centre of excellence for facilitating technology and information for resource and enterprise developments, creating awareness on the potentials of bamboo, building the capacity of bamboo farmers and entrepreneurs, house pilot demonstrative bamboo processing units for entrepreneurs to train on.
4.50 lakh bamboo seedlings were distributed to bamboo farmers from the central public nursery located at NBRC during 2007. During the same period 1.58 lakh bamboo seedlings were also supplied to Manipur, Andhra Pradesh and Arunachal Pradesh.
Referring to marketing, bamboo mats produced by Anaki bamboo cluster consisting of five villages under Mokokchung district is being supplied Arunachal Ply Industries Ltd. The cluster is currently supplying 6000 mat per month selling at a price of Rs 50/- per mat thereby generating monthly revenue of Rs 3.00 lakhs for the villages.
A marketing tie up has been established with a Bangalore firm to supply bamboo square and round sticks produced from the State. Demand for the sticks from the firm is to the tune of 40 tons per month. For Bamboo Venetian blinds sticks, channel established with one weaving unit at Guwahati and another in Nagaland being set up.
Also current bamboo charcoal installed capacity production is about 6.5 tons per day from 45 kilns. So far, 11.70 tons of bamboo charcoal has been produced from the local traditional pit method of production. Bamboo charcoal from the state is presently being supplied to SM Smelters of Arunachal Pradesh in addition to sales in the local market, source said.
On bamboo charcoal briquettes, a 4-ton per day capacity unit is in operation at NBRC being run by an entrepreneur on training. The products are selling well in the local market.
During 2006, 44 tons of bamboo shoots was arranged from Jalukie bamboo cluster through the VBRCs and supplied to Nagaland Foods Pvt Ltd. During 2007, 37 tons of bamboo shoot was arranged through two SHGs and one VBDC from Dimapur and Jalukie and supplied to Nagaland Foods Pvt Ltd, Ganeshnagar and NFVP, voila colony, Dimapur.
Sources also said the construction of 2 kilometers of ‘bamboo road’ in Kohima district and 5 kilometers of ‘bamboo road’ in Peren district was done to facilitate bamboo extraction and marketing.
