Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, November 29 2021: The value chain management and sustainable development in the bamboo sector is today a challenging task that requires analysis, dissection and re-emphasis to modernize the traditional uses of bamboo, according to Kamesh Salam, the former president of the World Bamboo Organization and the founding executive director of South Asia Bamboo Foundation (SABF).
SABF has developed a mobile apps Bamtech for the first time in the world which will enable bamboo workers, manufacturers and planters to understand and engage in networking on the modern day applicability of bamboo in different work sectors, whether these be crafts, furniture, construction, architectural designs and utility items, Kamesh elaborated while stressing that bamboo is no longer the 'poor men's timber' but is very much the 'Green Gold' due to its multi-utility functions.
Speaking at the launch of his illustrative book "Green Gold" at the Crafts Complex located at Patsoi in Imphal West district on Sunday, Kamesh urged upon the Vice-Chancellor of Manipur Technical University, Dr Bhabeswar Tongbram to provide a platform which can fill in the gap amongst bamboo practitioners and the technological knowledge providers in achieving new outlook and perspective in value added bamboo related productions.
The publication features the value chain of few important bamboo products, namely, bamboo-based handicraft, bamboo shoots, bamboo furniture, bamboo charcoal, and bamboo panel boards, with re-emphasis on the potential of bamboo to tap this resource economically, enabling it to become 'Green Gold' for bamboo practitioners.
The South Asia Bamboo Foundation's target is in realising the market potentiality of the woody grass to tap its resources for the benefit of hundreds of bamboo workers and manufacturers in North East India particularly to enhance their livelihoods and make the bamboo-based market viable, Kamesh Salam said.
With this objective in sight, SABF is collaborating with Taiwan's National Chung Cheng University to develop the capability of bamboo farmers and manufacturers in the North East to produce world class bamboo products, Kamesh further elaborated while announcing that technicians from the University would soon be providing trainings in bamboo technology to farmers here.