Tripura: Biplab Kumar Deb interacts with Bamboo Artisan in the State

Guwahati: With the intention of getting a firsthand experience of the various problems faced by the different stakeholders of the bamboo industry in Tripura, Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb on Friday interacted with the bamboo and cane handicraft artisans, bamboo producers, entrepreneurs engaged with the sector and students of the state studying bamboo management.

The meeting was organized by the Forest research center for livelihood extension, Salbagan forest complex in the sideline of the one-week training in the value addition bamboo technologies through skill development of bamboo handicrafts for the promotion of community enterprises.

Deb who is also the Handloom and Handicraft Minister of the state has been emphasizing on the cultivation of bamboo in the state so that the farmers can get fast return within two years of plantation and thus double their income before the target set up in 2022.

According to a survey, more than 1.3 lakh families are directly or indirectly involved with the handloom, handicraft mainly engaged in making of bamboo decorative, utility, and fancy materials.

The artisans a large section of who are women were very happy as they could directly interact with the Chief Minister and express their problem.

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister emphasized on proper implementation of various central schemes aimed towards the benefit of artisans beside skill development and e-marketing to reach larger market avoiding the middleman so that the farmers and artisans get the direct benefit.

He also distributed prizes among the various artisans who took part and displayed various of the hand-made bamboo products including showpieces, ornaments, utility products etc which has huge demand outside the state but requires proper exposure.

Tripura is gifted with rich and diverse bamboo resources. According to a recent report by the Indian Council of Food and Agriculture, reveals that the state accounts for about 6 per cent of bamboo sticks used for making incense sticks in India. The report further states that Tripura has favourable climatic conditions for the cultivation of various fruits and horticultural crops. Around 21 of the 130 bamboo species known in India are grown in the state. it is also the second largest natural rubber producer in the country after Kerela.

The State government has launched Tripura Bamboo Mission in Public Private Partnership model for the integrated development of the Bamboo sector in Tripura. the implementation of the project started in 2007, focusses on the development of 4 sub sectors, namely Bamboo Plantations, Bamboo Handicrafts, Bamboo Incense sticks, and Bamboo Industrial Applications.

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