Konkan bamboo and cane development centre Key Issues and
Operational Areas, Major Activiities & Achivements
Operational Districts: Sindhudurg
Operational States: MAHARASHTRA
AchieveMents: The Konkan Bamboo and Cane Development Centre (KONBAC) was established to implement the programme, which aimed to enhance rural livelihoods, while addressing local, crosscutting social and economic challenges, such as dependence on rain-fed agriculture, male urban migration, caste prejudices and low market demand. The Sindhudurg and Ratnagiri districts of Konkan division pose a development challenge, as the majority of rural residents depend on a single, rain-fed, short agriculture season. Lack of year-round employment opportunities is a major cause of poverty, leading to seasonal migration of males. The action research programme has incrementally changed social perceptions of bamboo as a cheap and low-class material. To promote such changes, the action research programme relied on training and capacity building of local communities, particularly empowering local women as income earners (women comprise two-thirds of the rural workforce).
At present, the Konkan action research programme of KONBAC has made considerable progress in developing into a self-sustaining institutional ecosystem. Although certain issues relating to working capital and capacity expansion still exist, KONBAC is well on the way to solving these, and has already emerged as a model that is being emulated elsewhere in India and abroad.
The work conducted by KONBAC during the last 05 years has led to establishment of several facilities/ areas of expertise (both infrastructure based and human resource based) within the Organisation. They are highlighted below:
NO. FACILITY PARTICULARS
1 Bamboo Training and Product Development Centre Sponsored by National Mission for Bamboo Development (NMBA), Dept. of Science and Technology, Govt. of India
2 Bamboo Common Facility Centre for primary processing Sponsored by Development Commissioner ââ¬â Handicraft, Ministry of Textile, Government of India
3 Bamboo Research and Development Centre Sponsored by INBAR and International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)
4 Bamboo Pressure Impregnation Treatment Plant Sponsored by National Mission for Bamboo Development (NMBA), Dept. of Science and Technology, Govt. of India
5 Bamboo Technology Development Centre Sponsored by National Bamboo Mission, Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India
6 Bamboo based Hygiene Product Manufacturing Unit Sponsored by National Mission for Bamboo Development (NMBA), Dept. of Science and Technology, Govt. of India
7 Bamboo based Power Generation Unit Sponsored by National Mission for Bamboo Development (NMBA), Dept. of Science and Technology, Govt. of India
8 Bamboo Furniture Manufacturing Unit Self sponsored
9 Bamboo Craft Manufacturing Unit Self sponsored
10 Bamboo Construction Technology Demonstration Unit Self sponsored
11 Bamboo waste based Briquette Manufacturing Units Sponsored by National Mission for Bamboo Development (NMBA), Dept. of Science and Technology, Govt. of India
12 Bamboo based Charcoal Manufacturing Unit Sponsored by National Mission for Bamboo Development (NMBA), Dept. of Science and Technology, Govt. of India
13 Bamboo Construction components, Fabrication and Erection Unit Self sponsored
14 Bamboo Nursery Establishment Self sponsored
Expertise in each of above-mentioned areas has made KONBAC a World Leader in the area of bamboo development.
