|
 Konkan Bamboo and Cane Development
Centre (KONBAC) |
The
Konkan region lies between the Arabian Sea and the Sahyadri Mountain
Range, a narrow coastal lowland, barely 60 km wide and 600 km long.
The region encompasses Thane, Mumbai, Raigad, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg
districts of Maharashtra. It is largely rural and the economy is
largely agro-based. |
|
Sindhudurg
at a Glance |
| Geographical
area |
5,207 sq. km |
| Population |
868,825 (2001 Census) |
| -Male |
48.1% |
| -Female |
51.9% |
| Sex ratio |
1,079 (per 1000 male) |
| Population density |
167/sq. km |
| Literacy |
80.3% |
| -Male |
90.3% |
| -Female |
71.2% |
| Number of sub-districts |
8 |
| Number of villages |
743 |
| Major crops |
Rice, coconut, mango, cashew |
| Forest area |
38,643 ha |
| Smallholders |
74% |
|
|
 Bamboo
is one of the most abundant resources available in the Konkan region,
as this area is very much suited for bamboo cultivation and bamboo
product development. The main species of bamboo found in the area
are Oxytenanthera stocksii, Oxytenanthera monostigma,
Bambusa bambos and Dendrocalamus strictus. The
nature of bamboo crop varies from moderately dense type to regeneration
type. Basic bamboo processing skills are available in the region,
and the livelihoods of some of the backward communities are dependent
solely on bamboo products.
With the objective of strengthening the bamboo sector in the Konkan
region, the Centre for Indian Bamboo Resource and Technology (CIBART)
established an office at Kudal in Sindhudurg district in June 2004.
The strategic reason for setting up the office in Kudal is its proximity
to Goa (tourist destination) and Mumbai (India’s business hub).
CIBART also established a Common Facility Centre (CFC) at Kudal
in January 2005, with funding support from Development Commissioner
(Handicrafts) under the central Ministry of Textiles and technical
inputs and guidance from the International Network on Bamboo and
Rattan (INBAR). (Please see Annex 1 for Project Proposal on
CFC).
|
 To
promote the local ownership, the Konkan Bamboo and Cane Development
Centre (KONBAC) was launched in June 2004. KONBAC is now taking
the lead role in strengthening the bamboo sector initiatives in
the Konkan region.
KONBAC focuses on three major components:
1. Capacity building of the artisans: This
is a major component that has been promoted under CFC. Regular
trainings are imparted to artisans with support from development
funding agencies such as DRDA and NABARD and technical institutions
such as MITCON, JSS and LMCs. This has resulted in value addition,
both social and economic. (Please see Annex 2 for details on capacity
building programs carried out).
2. Product diversification: The CFC
set up under the project has been developing prototypes on a variety
of bamboo products with the available local expertise. The CFC
is specializing in furniture making, bamboo-based construction
and bamboo packaging cases.
3. Linkages and market tie-ups: KONBAC
generates its revenue through linkages with various government
departments and development institutions, providing technical
services such as capacity building, and through sale of products
such as furniture. Local market tie-ups have been established
to promote bamboo products.
|
 It
is estimated that there are 8,861 families engaged in bamboo-related
activities in Sindhudurg district. The CFC has established infrastructural
facilities based at Kudal and approximately 40 artisans are working
in the CFC. So far, it has trained over 700 men and women on various
aspects of bamboo product making. In addition to this, trained women
are working in their respective villages to produce bamboo products.
In the CIBART approach, skill upgrading does not end with the training,
but extends to handholding through the teething period. Regular
follow-up visits by the trainers ensure mentoring of the entrepreneurs.
In some areas, Self-help Groups are promoted to leverage collective
strength. KONBAC also supports the entrepreneurs by exploring and
establishing market linkages, both local as well as distant. Therefore,
there is a great demand for training and other allied activities
from among the local communities. |
KONBAC
uses the fully equipped CFC to train community members, as well
as serve as common production centre that could be used by the community
members to serve their production needs. Within a short period,
KONBAC has successfully used bamboo to: |
| • |
Reposition
artisanal products, and upgrade and transfer artisans’ skills
to create products that could enter larger, upscale markets. |
| • |
Function
as a key centre for product innovation and diversification,
as well as design development. |
| • |
Provide
standardized bamboo components or sub-components to artisans
so that they would be able to improve the quality and reduce
the costs of their products. |
| • |
Improve
capacities among artisanal communities to absorb modern methods
of processing and production. |
| • |
Improve
cash flow and cash income availability through establishing
market linkages and market-driven production. |
| • |
Launch
advocacy efforts to positively influence policies that affect
livelihoods of the poor. |
|
 KONBAC
now commercially produces bamboo furniture and craft products, undertakes
construction contracts, and also produces bamboo planting material.
The value of orders/contracts to date that have been executed or
are ongoing exceeds $330,000, excluding grants received for training
and projects. (Please see Annex 3 for details on works undertaken). |
 KONBAC
works closely with the Global Marketing Initiative of INBAR, helping
in the prototyping and trial production of bamboo furniture. From
August 2005 to July 2006, 75 skilled and semi-skilled artisans produced
450 units of furniture (chairs, sofa sets, tables, telephone stand
and TV trolley, screens and partitions, beds, etc.) using the facilities
at the CFC.
Furniture production has been an important step in developing sustainable
livelihoods for the local population. The average daily earning
of a skilled worker is Rs 116 ($2.6) and that of a semi-skilled
worker is Rs 83 ($1.9). The model has been successful enough to
be considered a pioneer for the series of CFCs for bamboo-based
products that are now being planned by the Ministry across the country. |
 In
2005, KONBAC took the initiative to develop a bamboo split-based
packing case for mangoes. Prototypes were developed and piloted
with mango growers, wholesale traders, loaders and transporters.
Based on their feedback changes in design were incorporated, and
3,500 cases were trial-produced. The cost of production (using the
facilities of CFC) was around Rs 35 (US$0.78) per case, which is
competitive with wood-based mango packing cases being sold in retail
market to small mango producers. However, this needs to be reduced
further through better resource and production management for the
bamboo packing cases to compete on the market with entrenched wood-based
cases. Work is currently going on these aspects. (Please see Annex
4 for a report on bamboo packing case). |
KONBAC
has also ventured into bamboo-based construction, designing a passenger
shelter of Konkan Railways and cafeteria and restaurants for the
local food industry. |
  |
| Projects
currently under way are as follows: |
Project |
Year |
No.
of artisans |
Cost
of the project (in Rs) |
Revenue
generated (in Rs) |
Remarks |
| Common Facility Centre |
January
2005 |
20 |
4,300,000 |
|
50%
grant released from D.C. Handicraft, Textile Ministry, Government
of India |
| Bamboo Pressure Treatment
Plant |
August
2006 |
8 |
800,000 |
150,000 |
More
then 10,000 bamboo poles of 20 ft length treated in the plant |
| Bamboo Training Unit |
June
2004 |
18 |
|
1,600,000 |
2,150
candidates has been trained |
| Bamboo Furniture Unit |
January
2006 |
25 |
120,000 |
900,000 |
|
| Bamboo Structure, Fabrication
& Erection Unit |
|
20 |
100,000 |
3,000,000 |
|
|
| KONBAC
is a not-for-profit Section 25 company, and its current directors
are: |
| • |
Dr.
I. V. Ramanujarao |
| • |
Mr.
T. P. Subramony |
| • |
Ms.
Sangeeta Agrawal |
| • |
Mr.
Sanjeev S. Karpe |
| • |
Mr.
Mohan G. Hodawadekar |
|
|
