Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 12: The deliberations of the two-day workshop-cum-exhibition on bamboo with the aim of creating opportunities for the sustainable development in Jammu and Kashmir concluded today at Convention Center, Jammu.
The workshop-cum-exhibition was organized by the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region, North Eastern Council, Govt. of India and Govt. of Jammu and Kashmir through Cane and Bamboo Technology Center (CBTC), Guwahati, Assam and the Department of Social Forestry, Govt. of Jammu and Kashmir.
During the valedictory session today, C.H. Kharshing, Planning Advisor, North Eastern Council, Govt. of India put forth various recommendations for the growth of Bamboo industry in Jammu and Kashmir on the pattern of North Eastern Region.
The recommendations are identify and increase the coverage of appropriate species of bamboo in Jammu and Kashmir through tissue culture research and establish nursuries and distribute endlings; formation and promotion of bamboo related farmers and organisations and bamboo clusters throughout the bamboo producing areas of J&K with the involvement of PRIs; Capacity building of J&K farmers/artisans and bamboo entrepreneurs at CBTC Assam; Technical collaboration of CBTC with the J&K government for setting up of Common Facility Centers and Bamboo Technology Parks; Promotion of the use of bamboo as construction material for eco-tourism, rural housing and community buildings in rural areas; Partnership between NEHHDC and J&K Government to assist the J&K artisans for the promotion and marketing of bamboo products and handicrafts.
Speaking during the technical session, Dhan Chaudhary, a young enterpreneur from North East and Proprietor, Swaraj Bamboo Works said that the size of the Agarbatti market in India is about 6000 crore and is growing at a rate of 10 percent per annum which has immense scope for the livelihood development in the rural areas. There are about 12000 Agarbatti manufacturing units in India and over 33 lakh people are directly or indirectly employed by this industry, he added.
He further said that Jammu and Kashmir has also a good scope in Agarbati manufacturing as there are good reserves of Bamboo in different areas of Jammu which can generate good employment avenues for the people.
Dhiraj Thakuria, Managing Director, North East Handloom and Handicrafts Development Corporation, Ministry of DoNER, Govt. of India speaking on the technical session on ‘Cane and Bamboo Handicraft’ said that the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region has launched a program known as Science and Technology intervention in North Eastern Region (STINER) for the development of user friendly technology using IITs, ICAR etc and for the promotion of the Handicraft and Handloom sectors in North Eastern Region.
Sanjay Ganjoo, CEO Bhaskar Foundation and Director General Indian Federation of Green Energy said that Jammu and Kashmir has also a great scope in Bamboo industry especially in Eco tourism, Handicrafts, Agarbatii stick clusters, Tissue culture labs etc but what needs to be done is the support of the Central Govt. which is now more progressive under the leadership of Narendra Modi and wants the economy to grow by leaps and bounds.
Rabin Bose, Vice President Mutha Industries, Agartala in another technical session on ‘Bamboo Wood Making and its products’ questions that when Arab countries can use oil to make a flourishing economy, why cannot we utilise bamboo to make our economy grow much faster.
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