Training report on cane and bamboo products diversification and value addition
Introduction
The training on cane and bamboo products diversification and value addition processing was conducted for the Non Wood Forest Products (NWFPs) Management Group of Potala Shingmin
Drongdey Nagtshel at Pheluma on 20 th to 24 th of December 2013. The five day training was accompanied by the Geog Mangmi and GT Tshogpa of Pheluma. The training program mainly focus on the specific diversification of few handicraft items and value addition processing part rather than going for making many types. More than 50 community members had participated in the training program and gained experience in value addition process of cane and bamboo products. The objectives of the training are;

To promote good quality local bamboo products for income generation

To improve the rural livelihood standard.
Day 1 (20/12/2013)
The first day of the training program began with warm welcome from GT Tshogpa of Pheluma to all guests and the participants. He expressed gratitude for the continuous support of fund through DzFS for such training which aims to uplift the rural livelihood of Pheluma. In addition,
Geog forestry extension and Mangmi highlighted on the main purpose of constant training program and its importance to the participants. They were also made aware and further sensitized on the sustainability of the resources and promotion of good quality local bamboo products for income generation. However, having imparted the theory knowledge on sustainable harvesting and utilization of NWFPs, the general plenary discussion was held among the group members and decided to make only twelve items which we expect would gain good market attention. After the lunch break, all members were dispersed for fetching raw materials from the nearby forest.
Raw materials collection from the forest and staking for products diversification training purpose
Day 2 & 3 (21 - 22/12/2013)
The day two and three were fully engaged in raw materials like, cane, bamboos and Ringshu cutting, splitting, smoothening, drying in the sun or seasoning for value addition purposes. The participants were divided into the groups of three and each group has been guided by a local

resource person for splitting, smoothening and seasoning the materials. All spitted and smoothened products were spread in the sun and seasoned for dying and coloring.
Groups of participants engaged in materials splitting and smoothening for seasoning into products development
Materials seasoning in the sun for dying or coloring before making into real products
Day 4 & 5 (23-24/12/2013)
The participants took part in the process of preparing liquid dye with the proper ratio of mixing the color powder in the different containers of boiling water during the entire 4 th
and 5 th
day of the training while some members from three different groups have been continuously weaving the products under the supervision of their concerned local resource persons. They were in fact involved in the process of furnishing handicraft items from fine raw materials comprising of cane, bamboo and ringshu. The special key threads making out of cane species is very indispensable for without which desirable bamboo products making is not possible. The cane plays a vital role in making every handicraft item beautiful. The fine threads making from cane seems to be the difficult part faced by the participants.
We soaked and boiled the fully seasoned and prepared raw materials in containers of dye or color until it turns into expected looks. The three colors of red, green and yellow were procured for the very training. After coloring the products with three types, it is then dried in the sun and started

weaving twelve types of products in different designs or patterns by the few elderly resource persons. Rest of the member participants learn from them the basic techniques and art of weaving cane and bamboo products.
Value addition process: coloring of furnished or seasoned products by the participants
Seasoning of value added products and one of the resource persons initiated weaving the value added product
Participants learning of value added bamboo products weaving of different designs

This particular training stressed more on the value addition part and diversifying the selective worthy products to lager extent with the good hope to generate income from the sale and enhanced rural livelihood. The training program was conducted successfully to the best of my capacity with the help of local resource persons and good support from community members, GT
Tshogpa and Geog Administration.
Marketing of finished products
The NWFPs management group members of Pheluma have continued with the making of cane and bamboo products even after a week long value addition training. They have spent the full
January month and half of February 2014 for the development of value added products. The cane and bamboo products produced for the second time were taken to Samdrup Jongkhar for exhibition cum sale coinciding with the special occasion of 5 th
King’s birth anniversary celebration on 21 st – 23 rd February, 2014.
Value added cane and bamboo products exhibition cum sale in Samdrup Jongkhar
This time, the group has made 12 varieties of handicraft items only and exhibited during the occasion. But the maximum products exhibited during the Birth Anniversary of His Majesty on
21 st
to 23 rd
February 2014 could not find good customers since the gathering of public were very less compared to the past year.
Other than the occasion also they have been taking their finished products for sale to Deothang and Samdrup Jongkhar. The transportation cost for lifting the products by vehicle was adjusted from the training budget.
Submitted by
(Tshering Choeda)
Geog Forest Ranger
Orong