A three-day long training workshop on the cultivation and utilisation of bamboo for various stakeholders organised by the Forest Research Institute started here on Tuesday.
According to FRI officials, the bamboo is an important species which plays a vital role at every stage of life of human beings. Though people are aware of the use of bamboo and also use items made from it in their daily life, in the present times many new technologies have been developed which make bamboos more valuable with added multifaceted utilisation in industry. These technologies can be applicable in cottage industries which are generally run by self help groups (SHGs). Keeping these aspects in view, the extension division of FRI is organising the three-day training programme on cultivation and utilisation of bamboo for different stakeholders at demo village Shyampur in Dehradun. As many as 32 participants from various self help groups including women and representatives of various NGos are taking part in the training.
The training was inaugurated by the FRI silviculture division head and acting director of the institute, SD Sharma. In his inaugural address he said that bamboo is always beneficial for mankind and by using recent technologies developed by the institute, one can secure self employment and achieve self reliance by using bamboo products. The bamboo is among the most popular flora species and can contribute significantly to the well being of people, added the head of the silviculture division.
Earlier, in his welcome address, the head of the FRI extension division, AK Pandey said that bamboo can be more beneficial for society if adopted properly. The demand for bamboo raw material required by the industries can only be met by cultivation of bamboo in the fields by farmers. Bamboo-based cottage industries can also be developed by self help groups to generate self employment at the local level and the training programme will be helpful towards facilitating this. Trilok Singh Bist of the Bagwan Gramodyog Samiti also expressed his views on the occasion.
The inaugural session concluded with the vote of thanks proposed by institute scientist Devendra Kumar. The inaugural session was hosted by senior scientist Charan Singh.