For providing a better market to the bamboo handicraft products, the Tripura Bamboo Mission on Sunday has signed a memorandum with the National Centre for Design and Product Development during a programme at the Bamboo and Cane Development Institute of Lichu Bagan in Agartala.
The signing of the MoU took place in the sidelines of the distribution of free toolkit certificate among bamboo artisans aiming at improving the quality and quantity of products and towards increased income by proving to market all bamboo made products from the state in different parts of the country and abroad.
Tripura chief minister Biplab Kumar Deb took part in the distribution of free toolkit certificate among bamboo artisans.
He also inspected the experimental bamboo cultivation plot, various tools, and machinery facilities and the ongoing training besides getting acquainted with new bamboo products at the BCDI.
Speaking to reporters after signing the MoU, Deb said that the State Government is emphasizing on quality improvement of handicraft products through the appointment of consultant for marketing facilities for transforming the socio-economy of the artisan community.
According to the chief minister, the State Government has decided to go for massive bamboo cultivation covering 14000 hectors by 2022 and implementation has also started by the despite highly trained skilled artisans in the State who are producing international quality bamboo products they are unable to get the profit is because of the lack of proper marketing and the government is now emphasizing on that aspect.
Deb said, “We have signed the MoU and are now going to appoint consultants for marketing, consultants will legally get their percentage of the profit share. Earlier the State Government never went for appointing marketing consultant but now we shall go for that through tender or taking cabinet decision in order to increase the sale of bamboo products of the State.”
He added that several initiatives were taken during erstwhile government’s tenure in the bamboo sector but most of the initiatives failed due to the lack of proper marketing.
Meanwhile, the artisans who got the free toolkit certificates also expressed that they have been working with the traditional tools but with the mechanical tools they shall be able to not only improve the quality but also the quantity of their products and with a better market the facility they shall be able to increase their earning and towards a brighter future in this sector.