Training report on cane and bamboo products diversification and value addition
Introduction
The training on cane and bamboo products diversification and value addition processing was
conducted for the Non Wood Forest Products (NWFPs) Management Group of Potala Shingmin
Drongdey Nagtshel at Pheluma on 20th to 24th of December 2013. The five day training was
accompanied by the Geog Mangmi and GT Tshogpa of Pheluma. The training program mainly
focus on the specific diversification of few handicraft items and value addition processing part
rather than going for making many types. More than 50 community members had participated in
the training program and gained experience in value addition process of cane and bamboo
products. The objectives of the training are;
 To promote good quality local bamboo products for income generation
 To improve the rural livelihood standard.
Day 1 (20/12/2013)
The first day of the training program began with warm welcome from GT Tshogpa of Pheluma
to all guests and the participants. He expressed gratitude for the continuous support of fund
through DzFS for such training which aims to uplift the rural livelihood of Pheluma. In addition,
Geog forestry extension and Mangmi highlighted on the main purpose of constant training
program and its importance to the participants. They were also made aware and further sensitized
on the sustainability of the resources and promotion of good quality local bamboo products for
income generation. However, having imparted the theory knowledge on sustainable harvesting
and utilization of NWFPs, the general plenary discussion was held among the group members
and decided to make only twelve items which we expect would gain good market attention. After
the lunch break, all members were dispersed for fetching raw materials from the nearby forest.
Raw materials collection from the forest and staking for products diversification training purpose
Day 2 & 3 (21 - 22/12/2013)
The day two and three were fully engaged in raw materials like, cane, bamboos and Ringshu
cutting, splitting, smoothening, drying in the sun or seasoning for value addition purposes. The
participants were divided into the groups of three and each group has been guided by a local
resource person for splitting, smoothening and seasoning the materials. All spitted and
smoothened products were spread in the sun and seasoned for dying and coloring.
Groups of participants engaged in materials splitting and smoothening for seasoning into products development
Materials seasoning in the sun for dying or coloring before making into real products
Day 4 & 5 (23-24/12/2013)
The participants took part in the process of preparing liquid dye with the proper ratio of mixing
the color powder in the different containers of boiling water during the entire 4th and 5th day of
the training while some members from three different groups have been continuously weaving
the products under the supervision of their concerned local resource persons. They were in fact
involved in the process of furnishing handicraft items from fine raw materials comprising of
cane, bamboo and ringshu. The special key threads making out of cane species is very
indispensable for without which desirable bamboo products making is not possible. The cane
plays a vital role in making every handicraft item beautiful. The fine threads making from cane
seems to be the difficult part faced by the participants.
We soaked and boiled the fully seasoned and prepared raw materials in containers of dye or color
until it turns into expected looks. The three colors of red, green and yellow were procured for the
very training. After coloring the products with three types, it is then dried in the sun and started
weaving twelve types of products in different designs or patterns by the few elderly resource
persons. Rest of the member participants learn from them the basic techniques and art of
weaving cane and bamboo products.
Value addition process: coloring of furnished or seasoned products by the participants
Seasoning of value added products and one of the resource persons initiated weaving the value added product
Participants learning of value added bamboo products weaving of different designs
This particular training stressed more on the value addition part and diversifying the selective
worthy products to lager extent with the good hope to generate income from the sale and
enhanced rural livelihood. The training program was conducted successfully to the best of my
capacity with the help of local resource persons and good support from community members, GT
Tshogpa and Geog Administration.
Marketing of finished products
The NWFPs management group members of Pheluma have continued with the making of cane
and bamboo products even after a week long value addition training. They have spent the full
January month and half of February 2014 for the development of value added products. The
cane and bamboo products produced for the second time were taken to Samdrup Jongkhar for
exhibition cum sale coinciding with the special occasion of 5th King’s birth anniversary
celebration on 21st – 23rd February, 2014.
Value added cane and bamboo products exhibition cum sale in Samdrup Jongkhar
This time, the group has made 12 varieties of handicraft items only and exhibited during the
occasion. But the maximum products exhibited during the Birth Anniversary of His Majesty on
21st to 23rd February 2014 could not find good customers since the gathering of public were very
less compared to the past year.
Other than the occasion also they have been taking their finished products for sale to Deothang
and Samdrup Jongkhar. The transportation cost for lifting the products by vehicle was adjusted
from the training budget.
Submitted by
(Tshering Choeda)
Geog Forest Ranger
Orong