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With a mission to promote bamboo products globally and enhance livelihood opportunities for the people of Tripura, the state celebrated ‘World Bamboo Day 2024’ under the theme ‘Next Generation Bamboo Solutions, Innovation and Design.’ The event, organized by the Tripura Bamboo Mission, took place at Pragna Bhavan in Agartala.
Minister Santana Chakma, who inaugurated the program, reiterated the government’s commitment to developing bamboo-based industries in the state. In her address, she stressed the need to expand bamboo production and improve training programs for artisans by incorporating modern techniques. “The state government has launched several initiatives aimed at expanding bamboo cultivation and improving the socio-economic standards of bamboo growers and handicraftsmen,” said Chakma.
She further underscored bamboo’s potential to boost self-reliance and strengthen Tripura’s economy. “Bamboo cultivation has the capacity to transform the livelihoods of thousands of people in the state,” the minister said, praising the efforts of entrepreneurs working in the bamboo sector.
Tripura cultivates 23 different types of bamboo across 4,200 square kilometers, employing around 1 lakh people, Chakma noted. She also highlighted the significant economic contribution of the bamboo industry, which generates annual trade worth approximately Rs 120 crore.
Encouraging innovation, the minister urged artisans to continuously experiment with new designs to meet market demands. She highlighted the Chief Minister Agarbatti Atmanirbhar Scheme, which has enabled artists to create new bamboo-based products such as bottles and tiles, addressing growing consumer interest.
Chakma also mentioned the National Bamboo Mission’s provision of loans with a 60% subsidy, particularly benefitting bamboo growers in the North and Unakoti districts involved in incense stick production. The minister revealed that a Bamboo Park has been developed in Bodhjungnagar, with plans to establish similar parks in other districts. She assured bamboo farmers of continued support from various organizations, including the North Eastern Council, State Government, NABARD, Asian Development Bank, National Bamboo Mission, Tripura Bamboo Mission, and the Indo-German Project.
Kiran Gitte, Secretary of the Department of Industry and Commerce, spoke about ongoing efforts to identify new areas for bamboo cultivation and the reopening of the Chakmaghat bamboo depot to enhance trade. He also mentioned that the Asian Development Bank is preparing a Detailed Project Report (DPR) to further develop the bamboo sector in eight districts.
The event also saw participation from RK Shyamal, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, and W Bhutia, Chief Executive Officer of the Indo-German Project, both of whom expressed optimism about the future of Tripura’s bamboo industry.
S. Prabhu, Mission Director of the Tripura Bamboo Mission, outlined the work plan for the fiscal year 2024-25, focusing on expanding global marketing efforts for bamboo products and increasing livelihood opportunities for the people of Tripura.
The celebration concluded with the felicitation of 18 rural artists, including Jotsna Debnath, a roll mat maker, who were awarded by Minister Chakma for their contributions to the bamboo industry. In the second phase of the program, officials from the Forest Department, Handloom, Handicrafts and Silk Industries Department, and various banks interacted with bamboo industry entrepreneurs, growers, and artisans to explore new avenues for growth.
The event reinforced the state’s focus on promoting bamboo as a key resource for economic development while leveraging its global potential for sustainable growth.
