Many entrepreneurs in Arunachal Pradesh showing interest in bamboo products

For Nyapi Doni, selecting a new business after closing her poultry and piggery units, was a risky affair. But her grit and determination paved way to overcome risk factor and today she is an established bamboo entrepreneur in Arunachal Presh.

bamboo industry in norastern state could be a money spinner, if its potential can be exploited, as state boasts of having 74 species of grass species, literally known as 'green gold'.

Doni, who started her 'Arunachal Bamboo' industry in 2019 after leaving aside her poultry and piggery units, now earns more than 50,000 per month by selling her wide range of bamboo products including, furniture, home utility items and jewellery items.

With growing demands for bamboo in country, many entrepreneurs in Arunachal Presh are evincing keen interest to bamboo-based industries for its high-end value products with less investment.

"Bamboo industry is more comfortable and lucrative than or businesses as bamboo products with indigenous touch are a craze among people," Doni, who owns a large bamboo plantation, said.

She claimed that furniture and home utility items produced in her unit are in high demand.

"Recently my unit has constructed all furniture and utility items for a restaurant in state capital. We have also designed interiors of restaurant with tritional designs me of treated bamboo which will last for over 20 years," she ded.

Anor ly entrepreneur Techi Anna, who owns Poma Cane and Bamboo Industry near here, revealed that her efforts were to popularize unique bamboo products of state in or parts of country.

" unique products of my unit are bamboo plates and bowls which are being produced through bamboo coil technique. We are also producing furniture, home utility items besides jewellery which are available in our showroom at Itanagar," Anna said.

Anna earns around Rs 80,000 on an average per month. However, sale proceeds sometimes exceed two lakhs especially, during exhibitions where her unit put stalls.

North East Council h sanctioned an amount of Rs 50 lakh to Anna’s industry for construction of a work shed, where many artisans are being imparted training.

Anna said artisans of state, if provided quality training and industrial units purchased latest machinery, state too could produce superior quality products.

"I will meet Chief Minister Pema Khandu soon with a request to provide funds to bamboo entrepreneurs of state for purchasing state-of--art machinery and to provide a platform to m for training by experts from or countries," Anna ded.

Arunachal Presh has highest growing stock 8,824 million bamboo culms and is in best position to dress national concern of increasing market share of bamboo-based products, Dr Ganguva Murtem, chief executive officer of Arunachal Presh Bamboo Resource and Development Agency (APBRDA) said.

norastern state has an approximately 16,000 sq km area under bamboo cultivation with highest concentration of species found in Papum Pare, Lower Subansiri, Upper Subansiri, West Siang and East Siang districts.

Among 74 species of green gold found in state, Bambusa tulda, Dendrocalamaus asper, Dendrocalamus hamiltonil, Cephalostachys pergracile, Thyrostachys oliverii are some of species of high demands, Dr Murtem disclosed.

" APBRDA has so far provided technical knowhow and or support to over 1000 bamboo entrepreneurs in state. A bamboo technology park is under construction at Kamir Gungu in Papum pare district funded by NEC through Norast Cane and Bamboo Development Council (NECBDC) with an estimated cost of Rs 10.7 crore including, Rs 7 crore for infrastructure development and remaining for purchasing machinery,” official said.

park will provide skill development training for bamboo-based industries, he ded.

Murtem disclosed that agency is working on carbon credits on bamboo and accordingly proposals are being framed.

"Our emphasis is on scientific bamboo treatment and plantation besides storage, as life of a bamboo plant is approximately 4-5 years and if processed and treated scientifically, products could last for more than 20 years," Murtem revealed.

He ded that bamboo is such a crop every part of which, right from roots to tip could be utilized.

Meanwhile, state forest department has proposed a Rs 560 crore project – Holistic Development of Bamboo sector in Arunachal Presh (a site to market project) which would benefit more than 10,000 entrepreneurs besides generating revenue for state exchequer.

project has been approved in principle by Chief Minister Pema Khandu.