Officials, dignitaries along with participants and trainees during the World Bamboo Day observed at Nagaland Bamboo Resource Centre in Sovima, Chümoukedima district on September 18. (DIPR Photo)
Chümoukedima, September 18 (MExN): The Nagaland Bamboo Development Agency (NBDA) on Friday observed World Bamboo Day 2026 with the theme ‘Bamboo Beyond Borders’ at the Nagaland Bamboo Resource Centre (NBRC) in Sovima, Chümoukedima district.
The programme began with the hoisting of the World Bamboo Day flag at the NBRC grounds, followed by the inauguration of the ‘Green Gold Barn’, a new facility showcasing the use of bamboo through traditional knowledge, technology and innovation, stated a DIPR report.
Speaking as the Guest of Honour, NBDA Chairman and NPF Senior Vice-President Nuzota Swuro highlighted bamboo's significance in Nagaland's history, culture and rural economy, saying the resource had emerged as an avenue for enterprise, employment, innovation and sustainable development.
Reflecting on the agency's journey since its establishment in 2005, Swuro said its work had expanded beyond plantation to include skill development, processing, value addition, enterprise creation, technology intervention and market development. He cited initiatives such as Common Facility Centres, bamboo processing units, rural bamboo haats, bamboo bazaars and market promotion under the brand 'Naturally Nagaland'.
Swuro said two Common Facility Centres established by the agency had generated employment for more than 500 people, and stressed the need to strengthen market linkages so that bamboo products from Nagaland could reach wider national and international markets. He called for greater youth participation in the sector, noting that its future extended beyond farming and traditional craftsmanship to design, engineering, architecture, food processing, digital marketing and technology.
He also said Nagaland had identified the potential for creating bamboo economic zones, particularly in Dimapur, Niuland, Chümoukedima and Peren, with concentrated plantation and resource development linked to future industrial units.
Delivering the keynote address, Tiameren Chang, Mission Director, NBDA, said World Bamboo Day was an occasion to recognise bamboo's potential in sustainable development, environmental protection, livelihood generation and economic transformation.
He highlighted the agency's achievements, including block plantation covering 1,506 hectares, training of more than 200 entrepreneurs and artisans, two Common Facility Centres, primary processing units, 30 rural haats, 30 bamboo bazaars and 15 demonstration plots across the state, besides participation in trade fairs and the annual Hornbill Bamboo Carnival.
Referring to the newly inaugurated ‘Green Gold Barn’, Chang said it demonstrated how traditional bamboo knowledge could be combined with technology and innovation for more efficient utilisation of the resource, adding that the facility would be opened for public use in the near future.
Dr Jayanta Choudhury, Professor and Head, Department of Rural Development and Planning, Nagaland University, Medziphema Campus, spoke on bamboo cultivation, nursery development and utilisation, and highlighted the potential of bamboo-based biochar in the state. He proposed the introduction of diploma and vocational courses related to bamboo at the university and called for greater collaboration among bamboo agencies across the North Eastern States.
Certificates were also distributed to trainees who had successfully completed vocational skill development courses at the centre.
The programme was chaired by Lipoksungkum Imsong, Team Member, NBDA, while Mhonlumi Patton, Team Member, NBDA, delivered the vote of thanks.
