First National Bamboo Conference concludes in Khotang, the ‘capital of bamboo’

The First National Bamboo Conference held in Khotang concluded with a decision to establish a bamboo museum and identify the district as the bamboo capital. The event was conducted from 27th February to 1st march.   

Diktel Rupakot Majhuwagadhi municipality which organized the event mentioned it in the declaration after concluding the conference.    

The three-day conference issued a 35-point ‘Khotang Declaration’ which includes Diktel will have a bamboo research centre; observe Falgun 15 (27th February) as the national bamboo awareness day; and organize the national bamboo conference every three year.    

The conference was begun with the theme, ‘where there is bamboo, there is life; where there is life, there is bamboo’. The event discussed and exchanged knowledge and experiences the benefits of bamboo, its use, feed to livestock, income generation and enterprises relating to bamboo products, and contribution to environment protection, circular economy, and policy on use and promotion of bamboo.   

 

In the conference, 23 working papers were presented while 44 experts shared their views on bamboo plantation, marketing of bamboo products and entrepreneurship.    

On the occasion, Tirtha Raj Bhattarai, mayor of Diktel Rupakot Majhuwagadhi municipality said the conference was successful to sensitize public and policy makers alike on use and promotion of bamboo. They underlined the need for conducting research, exchanging experience on use of this plant and transferring skills to new generation on utilization of bamboo.    

The bamboo conference was formally inaugurated at Diktel-based Khotang Multi-Purpose Covered Hall and various products made from bamboo have been kept in the exhibition taking place at nearby Matikore playground.

The inauguration of the bamboo conference, hosted by Minister for Forest and Environment Ain Bahadur Shahi Thakuri, was attended by federal parliamentarians, provincial ministers and parliamentarians, governors, heads of national and international organizations, as well as heads of all ten local levels in the district and other local leaders from outside the district.

Over 300 guests from outside the district are attending the bamboo conference. Academic, entrepreneurs, and professionals were the key participants.

Diktel Rupakot Majhuwagadhi municipality is the main organizer of the event which is home to 13 types of bamboo, including Dhungro, Bhalu, Choya, Ban, Karauti, Malingo, Singano, Niganlo, and Muktiyali bamboos.

Forest Research and Training Centre, Babarmahal, Ministry of Forest and Environment, Koshi Province, and Green Bamboo Creation, Lalitpur are also the organisers of the conference.

The conference was coordinated by former minister for science and technology Ganesh Shah. A number of students and volunteers contributed to make grand success of the conference.