Andhra Pradesh

Bamboo craft gets a Chinese touch

ARTISTIC: A Chinese fan made of bamboo fibre cloth on display at the Environment Protection Centre, Jannaram in Adilabad district.

ADILABAD: The International Network for Bamboo and Rattan (INBAR), a Chinese NGO working internationally, will help train locals in bamboo craft as well as in marketing the value added products soon.

Considering the great potential bamboo has for generating livelihood in Adilabad district, the Forest Department has sought the help of INBAR.

“Bamboo is the poor man’s rich resource,” observed Bellampalli Divisional Forest Officer Vinod Kumar.

“For bamboo’s potential to be fully exploited, we are roping in the INBAR that has relevant expertise in the field. At present, we are providing livelihood to about 20,000 families in this division alone mainly through making of agarbathi (incense) sticks,” he added.

The Chinese are considered to master craftsmen in bamboo. They even make cloth of bamboo fibre. The vast bamboo ranges in Adilabad consist of mainly the Dendrocalamous strictus variety that is known for its high tensile and compressive strength. It is more suited for making furniture.

“The response for bamboo furniture at our stall at the ongoing Hyderabad ‘numaish’ is very encouraging. Further improvement in design of the products is what is needed,” the DFO said.

Visitors at the Hyderabad exhibition have ordered for cots and sofas made of bamboo by paying advance money. Sunil Deshpande of the Sampoorna Bamboo Kendra at Lavadha in Maharashtra agrees on the potential of bamboo furniture.

He however, feels that simpler items of bamboo can also provide adequate livelihoods to tribals.

Mr. Deshpande was associated with training Adilabad tribals in bamboo craft. He says bamboo holds good potential in making mat boards, educational toys, callipers for the disabled, name plates, water pipes etc. “Even houses can be made of bamboo that cost comparatively very low,” he pointed out.

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