Background

Bamboo based cottage industry is an age old traditional industry in Kerala. It is estimated that nearly three lakh workers, mostly harijans, girijans, scheduled caste, scheduled tribes belonging to the weaker sections of the society are engaged in the bamboo based cottage industry in the State. The levels of value addition being done in bamboo is at present very low and an average bamboo worker earns less than one US$ (Rs.35) per day.

Any improvement in this sector would directly lead to the improvement of the social indices of the sector. The very low levels of value addition prevalent at the moment, opens a very potential area for upgradation. Introducing new products and processes as well as improving the quality of the existing products can strengthen capabilities of income enhancement and employment generation in the sector. This would also lead to a sustainable process of rural industrialization.

Objectives

• To create and strengthen institutional capabilities to facilitate technological upgradation and commercialization of new and innovative technologie
• To upgrade the skills and capabilities of rural artisans and to promote technology based enterprises in rural areas
• To enhance income generation through value addition and to promote economic and social development
• To bring together internationally available technology for upgradation of the bamboo sector as well as to explore new applications for bamboo and consequent enhancement of income generation capabilities in the sector
  

The awareness programme focussed on the following issues

• The need to explore new applications for bamboo and bamboo related products which would lead to value added bamboo products
• Technology upgradation of the present processes in the bamboo industry as well as technology transfer for the new products identified
• Establishing linkages with international organizations, which would bring the wealth of international experience to India
• The need to explore industrial application for bamboo and bamboo products
• To improve the quality of yield by trying out new strains of bamboo and judicious use of biotechnology
  

The experts covered the entire spectrum of activities involved in the sector of bamboo, from the point where the bamboo is obtained from the forest, the transportation of bamboo to various collection centres as well as the places where it is woven into mats. The experts interacted in-depth with the people involved in the various activities and could study the operations involved and the difficulties faced there on. They had also visited the bamboo ply factory and had discussions with the officials there. After assessing the situation in the State, it was found that a lot of improvement in the present scenario could be done through appropriate technological upgradation as well as upgradation of skills and capabilities of the artisans involved.

The programme was organized at Angamali and around 300 people involved in the various stages and activities participated in the programme which was an unqualified success.

The experts and selected participants also met the Hon. Minister for Industries & Social Welfare, Smt. Susheela Gopalan and briefed her on the possibilities of improvement in the sector of bamboo. The recommendations which ensued from the awareness programme as well as the in-depth discussions are stated below :

Recommendations of the programme

• Upgradation of the existing slivering process - A suitable machine may be identified from China which can give quality slivers of variable thickness with commensurate finish. This machine should be capable of operating with our bamboo reeds.
• Eco friendly resins may be used so that the export potential of our bamboo ply may be improved.
• Bamboo particle board may be developed as a substitute for wood and its applications.
• Bamboo mats as available in China may be developed for both domestic as well as export applications.
• Potential of bamboo shoots cultivation for export may be considered.
• A technology mission with specific focus on the above points may be organized to China with the involvement of Kerala Bureau of Industrial Promotion (K-BIP), APCTT, Department of Science and Technology (DST), Kerala State Bamboo Corporation (KSBC) and potential entrepreneurs.
• A training programme for upgrading the skills of local artisans may be taken up with the support of DST.
• A demonstration programme may be initiated with the support of K-BIP.

List of experts/officials participated
Prof. Zhang Xinping, Chinese Academy of Forestry, China
Mr. K. Lakshminarayanan, In Charge, Technology Management, APCTT
Mr. S. Chatterji, Director, DST
Mr. T.K. Manojkumar, IAS, Executive Director, K-BIP
Mr. A.P. Kurien, Chairman, Bamboo Corporation
Mr. N. Raveendranath, Managing Director, Bamboo Corporation
Mr. V. Rajagopal, General Manager, K-BIP
Mr. R. Kishor, Manager, K-BIP