The Hindu Business Line : Shefexil adopts new mission to push value-added bamboo exports

Three new projects revolving around minor forest produce such as Bamboo (in Mizoram and Tripura), Sesamum (West Bengal) and Botanical herbs (Andhra Pradesh and Nagaland) have been taken up by the Shellac and Forest Products Export Promotion Council (Shefexil).

Talking to Business Line here recently on the new initiatives of the council under the Backward Region Grant Fund (BRGF) scheme of the Government of India, Mr Pradeep Kr Shaw, Chairman, Shefexil, said the primary objective was to help raise Indian exports of value-added bamboo items to Rs 15 crore by 2011 from the current figure of Rs 96 lakh.

The plan is to help increase value-added bamboo production in the country by 300 per cent by 2011, and also provide rural employment in a big way.

Bamboo Production

Stating that a bamboo mat manufacturing project, utilising the abundantly available raw material in the north eastern region, has already been identified for funds under BRGF, he said as per the proposed strategy, Bamboo Mat Weaving Co-operatives would be set up in collaboration with State Governments.

Describing bamboo mats as important raw material for bamboo mat boards, he said the council would assist in both product manufacturing and competency development by way of training, providing implements and facilities for mat weaving.

Asked on the employment potential in the tribal areas, Mr Shaw said under the bamboo mat weaving scheme, focus would be on some 9,000 direct beneficiaries (mostly tribal women and families with access to bamboo) across the two States of Mizoram (6,000 in Lawngtlai district) and Tripura (3,000 in Dhalai).

Technology Support

Explaining the scope of the project, he said the bamboo scheme was being targeted at as many as 15,000 beneficiaries, ensuring an annual income of Rs 25,000 per beneficiary.

The proposed flow chart will traverse the three stages beginning with bamboo cultivation, bamboo-processing machines and hand-mat weaving by the rural people, and also through board making machines.

Citing the utilitarian aspects of bamboo in its value-added form, especially in low-cost housing, Mr Shaw said the council would be working for technology support with agencies such as the Guwahati-based Cane and Bamboo Technology Centre and private players such as Zonun Matply of Mizoram. Zonun, he pointed out, was already supplying mat boards for housing work being taken up in the Tsunami-hit villages of Tamil Nadu.

Dwelling on the market potential of eco-friendly bamboo-based products, he said it now finds wide applications in items such as low-cost furniture and housing with high potential for rural employment.

Describing bamboo as an attractive natural resource compared to forest hardwoods, he said it could be processed into composites, as a viable wood substitute.

More Stories on : Exports & Imports | Strategy | Agriculture

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page