Activities undertaken in the first year of functioning

Activities initiated/undertaken in the past ten months by the State Bamboo Mission are outlined below: -

1.               Developing Bamboo plantations

One of the major objectives of the National Mission on Bamboo Technology & Trade Development is to expand area under Bamboo plantation by 2 million hectares in the Tenth Plan. As part of its activities, the Kerala Bamboo Mission has set a target of 80,000 hectares (4% of the national target) outside forest areas. This can be achieved through plantations on river/stream sides, along roads, wastelands from clay mines and quarries etc.

In order to achieve this target of promoting plantation of quality species needed by industry and artisanal/handicrafts sector, the Mission proposes to rope in Participatory Forest Management (PFM) communities, SHGs and NGOs to take up and manage the plantations on local community basis. To provide quality seedlings and plants to facilitate the rapid expansion of  plantations, the services of Kerala Forest Research Institute(KFRI) has been requisitioned. The seedlings (costing approximately Rs.25/- each) were supplied free of cost to 10 Panchayaths in Wayanad, Palakkad and Ernakulam. KFRI  also provided the technical know-how on planting and maintenance of the bamboo seedlings. Furthermore, KFRI officials have been visiting each of these Panchayaths to disseminate information and technical know-how on planting and maintenance of bamboo plantations. The second phase of this programme will commence in June 2005. 

2.               Training for artisans

There is urgent need for conducting training programmes for artisans and craftsmen to enhance marketability of products and increase earning capacity. It was decided to start the training with faculty from IIT(Mumbai) and NID with financial assistance from the Bamboo Mission. Uravu, an NGO in Wayanad, was identified as one of the training centres and the first such training programme involving 20 artisans and master craftsmen, including 13 women, from as amany as 11 NGOs/SHGs was conducted in November/December 2004 over a period of 2 weeks. It is planned to use this training module as a model for replication in at least two places during the fiscal year, namely at Thiruvananthapuram and Angamaly.

3.       Participation in Bamboo Congress

The 7th World Bamboo Congress was held at Pragati maidan, New Delhi from 28th February to 4th March 2004. State Bamboo mission organised the participation of the State in the Congress. A full fledged State Pavilion with partitions and stalls for different agencies such as KSBC, KFRI, Self-help groups, NGOs and individual Master Craftsmen. A delegation comprising 22 artisans/craftsmen and representatives of various agencies working in the bamboo sector was sponsored by the Mission to participate in the event. The Expo resulted in bringing to the notice, both nationally and internationally, that there is a vibrant bamboo sector in the State. It also resulted in exposing our artisans/Craftsmen to the wide array of skills, products and potentials available for developing so that better avenues of income generation can be achieved.

4.       Field trials of Bamboo machinery

One set of machines comprising i. Put in Material Machine , ii. Strip Slivering Machine &  iii. Hand Splitting Machine  which was re-engineered through KELTRON, Aroor was put at the disposal of “Uravu”, Wyanad for undertaking field trials. “Uravu” has conducted full-fledged trials on these machines and furnished a report on functioning of the machines. It is planned to replicate these machines in small numbers and make them available to the evolving bamboo based Clusters in the State.

5.   Proposals for availing assistance from CMP

Detailed Project proposals for availing assistance for the bamboo Sector under the National Common Minimum Programme was prepared and submitted in August 2004. Components listed under the proposals included assistance for (i)Cluster development, (ii)Inter-institutional linkages for R&D & Technology dissemination, (iii)Skill development and upgradation of artisans/craftsmen, (iv)Entrepreneurship Development Programmes, (v)Establishment of Micro, Small & Medium enterprises, (vi)Marketing Development assistance and (vii)Assistance to State Bamboo Corporation.

6.   Detailed Study of the Bamboo sector in the State

State Bamboo Mission decided to conduct an in-depth study on the bamboo sector in the State so as to provide critical inputs for aiding the planning process and designing interventions required in the sector. The Study has been entrusted with KFRI, Peechi in September 2004 at a total cost of Rs.10.00 lakhs.  The Mission Office has worked out detailed Terms of Reference and work on the study has commenced. The broad objectives are : -

1.     Creation of baseline data on bamboo resource and its use in the State.

2.     information on the socio-economic and livelihood aspects of workers

3.     Assessing the market potential for value added products.

4.     Preparing an Action Plan for the bamboo sector.

The study will be completed within 12 months.  Recommendation on activities that can be initiated by the Bamboo Mission immediately will be reported within a month’s time. An interim report will be available within six months and the Draft Action Plan will be submitted in the 9th month of the Study.

7.       Cluster development in Wayanad

Uravu,  a charitable trust, is working in the field of bamboo for the past 7 years and is basically involved design development and data accumulation on the traditional bamboo sector in Wayanad.

It was felt appropriate to adopt the Cluster Development model to ensure all round development in the Sector. The trained Cluster Development Agent from the District Industries Centre, Wayanad has already conducted a study and submitted the Diagnostic Study Report on the proposed cluster. There exists tremendous potential for turning this Centre of Excellence of Uravu into a Model Cluster that can be replicated in other parts of the State. Towards this the State Bamboo Mission is actively engaged in formulating interventions, especially with regard to setting up of a Common Facility Service Centre (CFSC) equipped with machines, tools and training equipment. It is expected that about 400 units, in and around Wayanad, will benefit  from this CFSC. The Cluster CFSC plans to install equipments like (1) Drying unit, (2) Primary bamboo processing equipment, (3) Ply moulding machines, (4) match stick making machines  etc.

The cluster approach is also to be initiated at two places in Kollam District as well as one location each in Trivandrum, Ernakulam and Palakkad Districts.

8. Kerala Bamboo Fest 2004.

 “Kerala Bamboo Fest 2004” was organised by the Department of Industries, Government of Kerala in association with Kerala State Bamboo Mission and all related agencies and organisations in the State.

In all, 42 exhibition stalls were set up to display various products made from Bamboo, Reed, Rattan and Screw pine. Individual Artisans, Master craftsmen, NGOs, SHGs, Small scale industries, Government controlled institutions, machinery manufacturers and organisations from outside the State working in the Bamboo sector participated in the Expo and displayed their products. In addition to this, a large Demonstration area was provided to the Office of the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts) to display the skills of Artisans sponsored by them under the AHVY Scheme for Cluster Development of Government of India. Government agencies like Kerala State Bamboo Corporation (KSBC), Kerala Forest Research Institute (KFRI), Surabhi and Kairali also took up stalls at the Expo.

By organising the Fest, the State Bamboo Mission was largely able to achieve close association with the bamboo based players in the State, cement the bonds between Government agencies and private enterprises and explore ways to establish strong linkages to carry out the activities of the Mission aimed at the bamboo community in the State.

Along with the Expo, a technical Seminar was also organised by the State Bamboo Mission under the aegis of Kerala forest Research Institute (KFRI). Speakers from all over the country were invited to present papers relevant to the bamboo sector in the State.