A bamboo Christmas tree made by traditional bamboo craftsmen from Kiphire district on display at the newly opened Bamboo Emporium and Sales Depot at the Nagaland Bamboo Resource Centre (NBRC) in Dimapur. The emporium was inaugurated in commemoration of the World Bamboo Day on Sunday, September 18. Visitors are welcome to visit the emporium and place orders. (Morung photo)
Dimapur, September 18 (MExN): After successfully hosting the first ever World Bamboo Day in 2010 at Kisama in Kohima, the Nagaland Bamboo Development Agency (NDBA) celebrated the second edition at the Nagaland Bamboo Resource Centre (NBRC) in Dimapur today. The event was low key and graced by MLA and Advisor NDBA, L Temjen Jamir. The initiative to celebrate the World Bamboo Day was taken by the World Bamboo Organization (WBO) during the 8th World Bamboo Congress held in Bangkok in 2009. Subsequently the following celebration was held in Kohima, which was graced by the Vice President of India Dr. Hamid Ansari.
Laying remark on the potentials of the bamboo industry in Nagaland, Jamir said the State has 46 different varieties o bamboo grass, having a stock of about 4 million tons valued at 250 crore rupees. The NDBA, which was formed in 2004 to undertake programmes and activities of bamboo with an objective to foster ecological security and economic growth through development and utilization of its resources, had taken up plantation in 50,000 hectares during the 11th five year plan through the National Bamboo Mission, Government of India, he informed. He pointed out that it has achieved plantation in 18,500 hectares in both government acquired and private land.
Jamir further expounded on bamboo as an important resource in the socio- economic-ecological-climatic context for Nagaland. The State, he said, has therefore taken the initiative to harness the potentials of bamboo and its benefits. He pointed out that employment opportunities in the bamboo sector is anticipated to be generated from the primary and secondary processing sectors, harvesting bamboos and in support of activities like training, transport, marketing and communication. He said the anticipated employment generation from development of bamboo sector by 2020 is two lakh and forty five thousand.
Further, on the challenge of hosting the first ever World Bamboo Day at Kisama, Jamir said that hosting an international event of such magnitude for the first time was a phenomenal task, yet the State took up the challenge and today are proud to have successfully hosted the event. The event today was attended by officers from the agri-allied sectors, bamboo craftsmen and entrepreneurs.
NDBA Team Leader, Norman Putsure, IAS, also put in a few words saying that the level of growth of bamboo in Nagaland is amazing. He said that the world is now looking at bamboo as a very precious product, and the level of potential is so great in Nagaland that people can see what lies ahead for them in future. “Bamboo can, perhaps be the changing element for the people of Nagaland,” he said, adding there is zeal and desire among the people to participate in the mission.
To commemorate the World Bamboo Day, the NDBA has from this year on instituted awards for best entrepreneurship in bamboo craft making.
Self help groups, entrepreneurs and craftsmen involved in the Bamboo Mission were awarded certificates and cash prize. Different competitions were held earlier during the day in mat making, bamboo shoot food recipe and innovative bamboo product and application. In the mat making category, Kantsung village won the first prize while Aitlenden and Kangtsung Yimsen Village stood second and third respectively. Authentic food, Chandmari, Kohima stood first in the food recipe category, with Lara SGH, Kohima and Yapang Ao in second and third positions. In the innovation and application, Paulong Phom and Longvia Phom from Longleng took the first prize followed by Savino Craft, Dimapur and Senti Ao.
Laying remark on the potentials of the bamboo industry in Nagaland, Jamir said the State has 46 different varieties o bamboo grass, having a stock of about 4 million tons valued at 250 crore rupees. The NDBA, which was formed in 2004 to undertake programmes and activities of bamboo with an objective to foster ecological security and economic growth through development and utilization of its resources, had taken up plantation in 50,000 hectares during the 11th five year plan through the National Bamboo Mission, Government of India, he informed. He pointed out that it has achieved plantation in 18,500 hectares in both government acquired and private land.
Jamir further expounded on bamboo as an important resource in the socio- economic-ecological-climatic context for Nagaland. The State, he said, has therefore taken the initiative to harness the potentials of bamboo and its benefits. He pointed out that employment opportunities in the bamboo sector is anticipated to be generated from the primary and secondary processing sectors, harvesting bamboos and in support of activities like training, transport, marketing and communication. He said the anticipated employment generation from development of bamboo sector by 2020 is two lakh and forty five thousand.
Further, on the challenge of hosting the first ever World Bamboo Day at Kisama, Jamir said that hosting an international event of such magnitude for the first time was a phenomenal task, yet the State took up the challenge and today are proud to have successfully hosted the event. The event today was attended by officers from the agri-allied sectors, bamboo craftsmen and entrepreneurs.
NDBA Team Leader, Norman Putsure, IAS, also put in a few words saying that the level of growth of bamboo in Nagaland is amazing. He said that the world is now looking at bamboo as a very precious product, and the level of potential is so great in Nagaland that people can see what lies ahead for them in future. “Bamboo can, perhaps be the changing element for the people of Nagaland,” he said, adding there is zeal and desire among the people to participate in the mission.
To commemorate the World Bamboo Day, the NDBA has from this year on instituted awards for best entrepreneurship in bamboo craft making.
Self help groups, entrepreneurs and craftsmen involved in the Bamboo Mission were awarded certificates and cash prize. Different competitions were held earlier during the day in mat making, bamboo shoot food recipe and innovative bamboo product and application. In the mat making category, Kantsung village won the first prize while Aitlenden and Kangtsung Yimsen Village stood second and third respectively. Authentic food, Chandmari, Kohima stood first in the food recipe category, with Lara SGH, Kohima and Yapang Ao in second and third positions. In the innovation and application, Paulong Phom and Longvia Phom from Longleng took the first prize followed by Savino Craft, Dimapur and Senti Ao.
