Many entrepreneurs showing interest in bamboo products

ITNAGAR: For Nyapi Doni, choosing a new venture after closing down his poultry and piggery units was a risky affair. But her courage and determination paved the way to overcome the risk factor and today she is a bamboo entrepreneur in Arunachal Pradesh.

The bamboo industry in the northeastern state can be a money-spinner, if its potential can be exploited, as the state boasts of 74 species of grass, literally called ‘green gold’.
Doni, who started his ‘Arunachal Bamboo’ industry in 2019 after exiting his poultry and piggery units, now sells a wide range of bamboo products, including furniture, household items and jewelery items, earning over Rs 50,000 a month. earns

With the growing demand for bamboo in the country, many entrepreneurs in Arunachal Pradesh are showing keen interest in bamboo-based industries for high-value products with low investment.
“Bamboo industry is more comfortable and profitable than other businesses because the local touch of bamboo products is a passion among people,” Doni, who owns large bamboo plantations, said.

He claimed that the furniture and household items manufactured in his unit are in high demand.
“Recently my unit designed all the furniture and utility items for a restaurant in the state capital. We also designed the interior of the restaurant using traditional bamboo that will last for more than 20 years.
Another woman entrepreneur Techi Anna, who owns a Poma cane and bamboo industry near here, disclosed that her efforts were to popularize the state’s unique bamboo products in other parts of the country.

“The unique products of my unit are bamboo plates and bowls which are being manufactured using the bamboo coil technique. Apart from jewellery, we are also manufacturing furniture, household items which are available at our showroom in Itanagar,” he said. Anna said.
Anna earns an average of Rs 80,000 per month. However, sales revenue sometimes exceeded two lakhs, especially during exhibitions where his unit had stalls.

The North East Council had sanctioned Anna’s industry a sum of Rs 50 lakh for the construction of a work shed, where many artisans are being trained.

Anna said that if the artisans of the state are provided with quality training and the industrial units buy the latest machinery, the state can also produce high quality products.
Anna added, “I will soon meet Chief Minister Pema Khandu to provide funds to the state’s bamboo producers for purchase of modern machinery and a platform for training them by experts from other countries. A request will be made to provide the form.
Arunachal Pradesh has the largest growing bamboo stock at 8,824 million and is well positioned to address the national concern of increasing the market share of bamboo-based products, the Chief Executive of Arunachal Pradesh Bamboo Resources and Development Agency (APBRDA) said. Officer Dr. Ganguva Murtem) said.
The northeastern state has about 16,000 square kilometers under bamboo cultivation with the highest concentration of the species found in Papum Pare, Lower Subansiri, Upper Subansiri, West Siang and East Siang districts.

Dr Murtam revealed that among the 74 species of green gold found in the state, Bambusa Tulda, Dendrocalamaus asper, Dendrocalamus hamiltonil, Cephalostachys pergracile, Thyrostachys oliverii are some species that are in high demand.
APBRDA has so far provided technical know-how and other assistance to more than 1000 bamboo entrepreneurs in the state. A Bamboo Technology Park is under construction by NEC through the North Eastern Cane and Bamboo Development Council (NECBDC) at Kamir Gungu in Papum pare district at an estimated cost of Rs 10.7 crore, of which Rs 7 crore is for infrastructure development and the rest. For procurement of machinery,” the official said.
He added that the park would provide skill training for bamboo-based industries.

Murtem disclosed that the agency is working on carbon credit on bamboo and proposals are being prepared accordingly.
“Our emphasis is on scientific treatment and planting of bamboo apart from storage, as the lifespan of a bamboo plant is about 4-5 years and if processed and treated scientifically, the product can last for more than 20 years. ” Murtem revealed.

He added that bamboo is a crop that can be used from every part of it, from the root to the tip.
Meanwhile, the state forest department has proposed a Rs 560 crore Holistic Development of Bamboo Sector project (a site-to-market project) in Arunachal Pradesh that will benefit over 10,000 entrepreneurs and generate revenue for the state exchequer. Will be.
The project has been approved in principle by Chief Minister Pema Khandu.