Natural packaging for agriculture & horticulture products from bamboo
- 15th - 20th January 2024 , Patsoi :: South Asia Bamboo Foundation -

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Natural packaging for agriculture & horticulture products from bamboo

Background: Bamboo a grass family is a strategic resource growing across the world particularly in NE India, which can be processed in various ways to produce different products, to be used as substitutions for existing plastic material as its biodegradable. First there were products made from bamboo, and then there was packaging made from bamboo. This big question, is this packaging sustainable and how it can substitute other material.

But traditionally in India bamboo basket weaving has rich cultural identity and used in all house hold applications mainly in packing which is now needed to bring to the modern packing of various products. High level of participation by communities and women participation, to build a sense of ownership in and commitment to, the industry can ensure the supply on continuous basis.

The Benefits of Bamboo for Packaging is Low Cost. Since bamboo grows around the world, it's much easier to access. Bamboo is a great replacement for materials such as plastic, and it can meet the sustainability goals of many businesses. Bamboo from harvesting, product development to collection and distribution value chain including regeneration of quality bamboo stock, can create much needed employment opportunities in rural areas. India bamboo packing for various products and promoting their inclusion packaging industry in India can greatly contribute to improve local livelihoods and rural development as well as ensuring conservation and reduced Carbon Footprint.

Bamboo packaging is not harmful like Plastics and is convenient disposal, versatility and Sustainable. Bamboo characteristics of high biomass productivity, self-regeneration and tolerance to poor soils makes it most suitable energy crop in terms of environmental sustainability. Bamboo has a life span of 40-60 years; if it is not utilized in the productive manner, then existing huge productive resource can get waste.

Due to bamboo’s versatility, it’s being used in an increasingly wide range of products and ample opportunity. As a local resource bamboo makes a lot of sense to use for packaging in India. Packaging is an essential element of any export operation, impacting not only the safety but also the costs, communications and even marketing of a product. Packaging also plays an important role for logistics of different products and become an essential for a secure and safe delivery of product to the ultimate user.

Objective: The main objectives of the training/workshop are:

o To create awareness about Bamboo and its importance for sustainable development particularly in packaging of fruits, vegetable and other products as plastic substitute.
o Creating human resources in the field of packaging particularly with the communities working with traditional skills and knowledge.
o Providing exposure of the trainees’ to the practical application of packaging with natural fibres and bamboo.
o Promoting of Bamboo Village Level Entrepreneurs throughout the region with linkages to export market of fruits & Vegetables.
o Importance & Significance of Packaging, Packaging Methodology and various low-cost Materials for packaging and their availability for enhancing the export.

Awareness cum training program on "Natural packaging for agriculture and horticulture organic products from bamboo" jointly organized by SAbF(South Asia Bamboo Foundation)& MSRLM (Manipur State Rural Livelihood Mission), Department of Rural Development, Government of Manipur was held from 15th-20th January 2024 at Bamboo Complex,Patsoi Part-I, Imphal West, Manipur.

The program was sponsored by NECTAR (North East Center for Technology Application and Reach), Government of India. The opening ceremony was held on 15th January ’24. The inaugural sessions were as follows:
o Welcome note & background of the event by Kamesh Salam, SAbF
o Address by Shri Satyaranjan Das, Project Supervisor, NECTAR
o Address by Resource Person- Shri. Bidhan Das, Regional Director, IIP, Kolkata
o Address by Chief Guest- Mrs. N. Bandana, IAS, Director, MRLM, Govt of Manipur
o Vote of Thanks- Dr.Gunoy Thokchom, Program Manager, MRLM

Natural packaging for agriculture & horticulture products from bamboo

The training program included both Technical & Practical sessions presented by experts from BCDI c/o NECTAR. Demonstration on bamboo treatment and processing was also shown during the training program by the experts. The trainees also performed all the various processes during this training program. A virtual presentation on bamboo packaging design was also presented by CS Sushant, In-Charge Bamboo Centre, NID, Bangalore.

Shri. Bidhan Das, Regional Director, IIP, Kolkata also presented on various aspects of commercial packaging with bamboo as a biodegradable alternative. The trainees learned the various methods included in bamboo treatment and processing. More than twenty product designs were produced during this training course. A total of 31 trainees took part and they were divided into five different groups, each group assigned with three to four product design.

All the trainees are SHG (Self Help Groups) members or their family members of SHG member promoted by MSRLM, Govt. of Manipur The program concluded on 20th January ’24. All the products made and designed during the training program were shown on the closing ceremony.Sessions on finished products were also performed on the closing day like dyeing ofbamboo, coloring,sanding, etc. The trainers and the officials also interacted with the trainees and shared different feedbacks and ways to promote similar such programs in future.

More such training programs in different sectors will be organized in the future both in BCDI, Agartala and SAbF, Imphal along with SHG (Self Help Group) and MSRLM. MSRLM is also planning to set up bamboo producers companies with various SHG to meet the market in an organized manner with proper business model from SAbF such as bamboo packaging, bamboo bottle making, bamboo furniture, bamboo shoot processing, bamboo pickle making, agarbatti stick making, etc. NECTAR will be providing technical support for all these future projects. The closing ceremony was as follows:

o Practical session
o Welcome address & brief report on the training by ThokchomLellel,District Coordinator,MSRLM
o Interaction with trainees
o Distribution of Certificates
o Address by Shri Satyaranjan Das, Project Supervisor, NECTAR
o Address by Dr. Gunoy Thokchom, Program Manager, MSRLM
o Address by KhambaRonglo, State Mission Manager, Non Farm Livelihoods, MSRLM
o Concluding Address by Kamesh Salam, Founder & Executive Director, SAbF
o Vote of thanks by UpadayaLourembam, Block Coordinator, MSRLM

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South Asia Bamboo Foundation
Shailaza Apartment Housing Society, house no 11, Bye lne no 3Narikalbari, ZooNarengi Road,
Guwahati-781024, Assam
Manipur: Crafts Complex, Patsoi Part-1, Imphal West, Manipur -795140,
Email: [email protected]
www.Kameshsalam.guru