Skill development training on bamboo material manufacturing begins

Twenty two participants from Pahari and Nagarkoti communities

With the slogan “Bamboo makes life better,” a skill development training on bamboo material manufacturing has begun in Badikhel, Ward No. 4, Godavari Municipality, Lalitpur.

The training, which will continue until April 02, was jointly inaugurated on 19th March by Godavari Municipality Mayor Gajendra Maharjan and Chinese Embassy Consular Chi Wang.

The training includes 22 persons selected from various wards of Godavari Municipality. Pahari and Nagarkoti communities of Ward No. 4 have been prioritised to participate in the training. People from the Pahari and Nagarkoti communities in particular have been earning their livelihood by making bamboo products. It is said that the training has been organized to further develop their skills and make them professional.

The training programme organized by Social Development Vision, Lalitpur, has been supported by Xizang (Tibet), China based Goodwill Foundation and the Nepal-China Kailash Culture Promotion Development Association, based in Kathmandu. Local partners include Godavari Municipality and Godavari Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Green Bamboo Creations has provided technical support for conducting the training programme.

Addressing the inauguration session, Godavari Municipality Mayor Gajendra Maharjan said that Godavari has taken this training as an opportunity. He expressed his view that skill development related to bamboo material manufacturing will help increase the income of the people of this area.

He further stated that bamboo is the main source of income for the people of Pahari and Nagarkoti communities of Ward No. 4 and said that the training would help in producing better materials. He urged the trainees to study carefully throughout the training period as this was the first time that international level training was being provided in the ward. He said that they should move forward by producing good quality bamboo products and marketing them.

Shiv Kumar Basnet, president of Social Development Vision, Lalitpur, said that training is conducted to make people who are making a living from bamboo products in Godavari commercially viable.  He mentioned that the market for bamboo materials is not only in Nepal but also abroad, and mentioned that the goal is to create professionally skilled manpower.

Ma Zhejian, president of Goodwill Foundation Tibet, said that the training will impart participants how to make various items from bamboo. He said that the training will also teach how to make lives economically prosperous through bamboo products.

Ma expressed his view that skilled artisans here will now have the opportunity to learn more advanced skills. He added that the program will benefit the local community, adding, “We want to encourage green development by promoting the concept of bamboo as an alternative to plastic, which will make our environment more beautiful.” Through this training, Nepali friends will have the opportunity to better understand China and China’s bamboo culture.

President of Godavari Chamber of Commerce Rajan Maharjan and chairperson of Ward No. 4 Sanubhai Nagarkoti also spoke on the occasion.

Dr.Rajendra KC, Director General of the Forest Research and Training Center and Pranab Pradhan, director of Green Bamboo Creation Nepal were also present on the occasion.

There are more than 50 species of bamboo are found in 63,000 hectares of land in Nepal. Various efforts have also been started in Nepal for the commercialization of bamboo. The first National Bamboo Conference was also held in Diktel, Khotang recently during27th February to 1st March.

Bamboo is a perennial grass with woody culms/stems arising from rhizomes – it has innumerable uses and a particular species may be more suited to one craft than another. Bamboo plays a significant and vital role in the Nepalese and is an integral part to their life. For those of the Hindu faith it fulfils numerous ritual requirements from birth to death.

Moreover, bamboo is used as construction material, bridges, baskets, Dokos, Bhakaris, expensive and stylish furniture, toys, flutes, bows and arrows and many more items.