Nagaland Forest Management Project conducts workshop on bamboo
Officials and resource persons during the workshop conducted by Nagaland Forest Management Project in Kohima on October 22. (Photo Courtesy: NFMP)
Kohima, October 25 (MExN): The Nagaland Forest Management Project (NFMP) organised a workshop to kick start its “scoping study on bamboo to assess the feasibility of establishing bamboo enterprises in the state.” The workshop was held at the conference hall of the Forest office complex, Minister hill, Kohima on October 22.
A press release issued by Lhinghoikim Touthang IFS, Dy PD & PRO, NFMP Kohima stated that the Chief Project Director, Dharmendra Prakash IFS in his inaugural speech talked about how bamboo is an integral part of life due to its versatile adaptability and uses with about 1500 documented uses of bamboo in various fields. The Director highlighted that after the 2017 amendment of Indian Forest Act bamboo is no longer listed as a tree and is exempted from payment of royalty to the government with free transit pass. “This is an opportunity for farmers to undertake bamboo plantation to increase their income and the step also would boost the bamboo enterprise section,” he stated.
Under the Nagaland Forest Management Project there are provisions for livelihood improvement of the rural populace and bamboo enterprise development can be one component towards this end. He also talks about the ‘Act East Policy’ and how the state should take advantage of this opportunity in terms of bamboo enterprise development for the economic development of the state.
The technical sessions of the workshop includes the following power-point presentation on the following topics with the respective speakers: “Bamboo diversity, its role in climate mitigation and sustainability: A case study of Mokokchung District, Nagaland” by Maongkala Walling, Research Scholar, Nagaland University; “Geographic Information System (GIS) and Remote sensing- technology and Application” by Meren from Nagaland GIS and remote Sensing Centre; “Utilization of Bamboo in Rural Nagaland: A case study of Mokokchung District” by Temjensola Jamir, research Scholar, RFRI Jorhat; and “Bamboo Improvement Program at RFRI Jorhat” by Mohammad Ibrahim Scientist D, RFRI Jorhat.
The discussion hour was led by Conservator of Forests, Dr. Kenei Miachieo, IFS where participants from the Divisional Management Units, Field management Units, Project Management unit and the resource person deliberate and discuss the way forward with regard to the roadmap for the Scoping study. The workshop was chaired by Supongnukshi IFS, Project Director and Vote of thanks proposed by Lhinghoikim Touthang IFS Dy. Project Director.
