The three retail outlets would come up in Pune, Aurangabad and Nagpur by November. An investment of Rs4 lakh to Rs5 lakh would be incurred per store.
The department of social forestry is planning to open three new bamboo retail stores in Maharashtra, which would specifically sell bamboo products and art pieces made by artisans in the state. The initiative will help popularise bamboo cultivation and products.
The three retail outlets would come up in Pune, Aurangabad and Nagpur by November. An investment of Rs4 lakh to Rs5 lakh would be incurred per store.
“The National Bamboo Mission launched in 2007 is working to promote the growth of bamboo sector. It is also working on marketing promoting bamboo-based handicrafts. We have decided to open three retail outlets which will act as a direct link between the artisans and the market,” said state director of social forestry department Prakash Thosre.
The department is also in the process of setting up a bamboo bazaar or a common facility centre wherein farmers and artisans can bring their products and get complete information on current rates and different marketing options available for their products.
“We have so far trained over 3,500 people in making bamboo crafts and are in the process of training another 1,500 more,” added Thosre. The department has not only introduced eight new varieties of bamboo plants in the state forests, but has also covered an area of 4,500 hectares across Maharashtra. Realising the need to make bamboo products more viable for market and innovative, the department has also began a new initiative under its “Innovative Innovations” programme. “We are working on three main product developments using bamboo. While the first one is poly houses using bamboo, the other two products are bamboo toilets and onion storage containers,” added Thosre.
The other products on which work is on are solar cookers and bamboo huts for promotion of rural tourism in the state. The department has also made a short film on bamboo products and cultivation in the state which was released on Saturday in the presence of governor SC Jamir.
“Our next focus is towards green building and green technology in construction. At this year’s annual construction fair we are planning to introduce several eco-friendly bamboo products that can be used for construction purposes,” said Thosre.
The department has so far spent close to Rs3 crore on the mission in Maharashtra and has asked for an allocation of 19 crore in this year’s annual budget.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}