Workshop in Guwahati accelerates outreach of bamboo products

A bamboo seminar has been educating craftsmen about new marketing techniques with the objective of promoting self employment and expand the outreach.

To educate the farmers, bamboo craftsman and forest department officials, a seminar was organised this week here.

The state government under the federal scheme, 'National Bamboo Mission' sought to promote the potential of the bamboo sector in India, through this seminar.

Seeking a solution to expand the market for bamboo products, experts shared their creative vision and also suggested ideas for effective bamboo marketing.

R.P. Agarwalla, state mission director, 'National Bamboo Mission', said that Guwahati could be used as a gateway for bamboo marketing for the entire North East.

"We have decided to open a bamboo market in every district of the state so that all the bamboo products manufactured in different districts get a good platform. On the state level, we have started retail outlets and training centres. We have formed a tie-up with the government as well as non-government organisations, so that the products which are manufactured in our villages and the cities, are marketed in different parts of the country like Delhi, Bombay and Bangalore," said Agarwalla on Tuesday.

Band members used musical instruments made only from bamboo, propagating the central theme of the seminar to the audience.

Kushali Das, a participant at the seminar, said it was edifying and she hoped to reap benefit in the future.

"We really enjoyed the bamboo music band and the seminar. It taught us about the scope of the bamboo products and hope that our self help group will progress after attending this educative session," said Das.

Similar programmes and seminar have been organised in different areas like agriculture, handloom, poultry, dairy, small food processing unit, bee keeping, cane and bamboo craft and weaving to provide opportunities to the rural people to showcase their art and gain self reliance.