DIMAPUR — The Nagaland Bamboo Development Agency (NBDA) is focusing its efforts on four districts – Peren, Dimapur, Chümoukedima, and Niuland – designating them as “Bamboo Economic Zones” to concentrate bamboo plantation and supply emerging industries.
Speaking at the World Bamboo Day celebration on Wednesday, NBDA Chairman Nuzota Swuro highlighted the agency’s shift towards an “action-oriented” approach for its third decade, beginning in 2024.
“With available funds, we will concentrate on these zones, establishing compact bamboo plantations to feed industry units in the near future,” he said at the event, themed “Next Generation Bamboo: Solution, Innovation and Design,” held at the Nagaland Bamboo Resource Centre in Chümoukedima.
He said that the agency is currently conducting a comprehensive resource mapping initiative to guide its upcoming action plan, assessing bamboo distribution and availability across the state. For this, the NBDA is in the process of vigorous and intensive consultations with local experts, entrepreneurs and the stakeholders who have practical experience and knowledge and ground realities.
Swuro said that most of the other districts are hilly areas with unfriendly terrain, making transporting raw bamboo cost-prohibitive for farmers.
"To overcome this bottleneck, we plan to set up small common facility centres with cluster units in far and remote areas which will be more cost-effective to transport the semi or processed products”, he said.
He went on to say that the agency has found many artisans in remote villages producing exceptional bamboo crafts using indigenous technology. If given access to skill development training and modern technology, their products have the potential to compete in national and international markets, he said, adding that such initiatives could significantly contribute to economic upliftment in rural areas.
46 local bamboo species identified
The chairman informed that the NBDA has identified 46 locally grown bamboo species and plans to conduct research and lab analysis. “This will offer scientific data to enable us utilise locally grown bamboo for artisans to extract raw materials as resources”, he said.
Contrary to common perceptions that the bamboo industry is exclusively for men, Swuro noted that some of the most successful entrepreneurs the agency encountered are women. Stating that most of the women artisans have inborn talent for designing and fine finishing, which is very crucial for value addition, he said the NBDA is prioritising skill development and financial assistance to empower women artisans.
Further, he outlined plans to enhance market linkages for bamboo entrepreneurs and said that the agency is exploring modern networking technologies to connect artisans with wider markets. “We have approached some financial institutions and are vigorously pursuing with them for funding sources”, he added.
Significance of ‘World Bamboo Day 2024’ was shared by Tolto Metha, team member of NBDA, and Albert Ezung, mission director of NBDA delivered the welcome address during the programme.
Nagas’ inability to succeed in business
The event also featured insights from industry experts including “bamboo architect”, Richard Belho who spoke about “sustainability and livelihood.”
Offering a frank assessment of the challenges facing Naga entrepreneurs, he emphasised the need for long-term commitment, a strong business mindset, and effective networking. He cautioned against premature lifestyle inflation and advised aspiring business owners to gain experience before seeking loans, reserving financing for expansion once a solid foundation has been established.
During the second session, creative director of Cane Concept, and founder of Urra Designs & Objects, Aku Zeliang covered the topic “entrepreneurship and market linkages”.
Drawing upon his own experiences since establishing his company in 2014, Zeliang stressed the importance of thorough market research and understanding current design trends to ensure product relevance. He also stressed the need for effective marketing, noting that many skilled artisans struggle to reach potential customers.
He encouraged participants to incorporate traditional elements into contemporary designs and urged greater collaboration and knowledge sharing within the crafts community.
Bamboo Entrepreneur Award
Meanwhile, the Bamboo Entrepreneur of the Year award was given to Aosanen for his dedication to the field of bamboo crafts and outstanding product innovations.