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Bamboo, cane industry on dying track in S’ganj

Published : Thursday, 6 July, 2017 at 12:00 AM  Count : 203
Ashok Benarjee
SIRAJGANJ, July 5: Due to increasing use of plastic items, the use of bamboo and cane items has been reduced drastically, leaving the bamboo and cane industry on dying track in the district.
There is no favourable environment for producing bamboo and no patronisation and capital for the industry. The growers are not getting any encouragement for producing bamboo and cane. Besides, the products made from bamboo and cane are not getting fair price. As a result, the production and use of bamboo products is decreasing day by day.
The current market is being ruled by plastic products, so the bamboo products are facing setback. The people engaged in producing bamboo and cane products are switching over to other professions. But still some are involved in their ancestral profession despite all negative factors. They are passing their days amid hardship.
According to field sources, once there were numerous bamboo clusters in Belkuchi, Kamarkhand, Chouhali, Raiganj and Tarash upazilas of the district. Besides, there was much cultivation of cane. But now the bamboo clusters and canes are hardly found.
Once there was much use of bamboo in making houses. For making houses, bamboos of 'Borobasa' varieties were used while 'Tolla' varieties of bamboos were used for making furniture.  
At that time, the bamboo and cane items had great demand at every village house. Different household items were made with bamboos and canes. Thousands of people used to maintain their livelihood by making bamboo and cane items.
Once there were many bamboo clusters and cane orchards at every village house but in the course of time, these are hardly found nowadays. Now, the bamboo clusters and cane orchards have been cleared and new houses have been built on the place.
Earlier, around 40 to 50 bamboos were needed to make a house but now for making houses, cement pillars are being used.
Due to rapid spread of plastic products, the bamboo products are suffering from existential crisis. Now, the bamboo and cane items are hardly found and if found, these are pricey since more money is needed to make the items. But, plastic products are cheap and easy to make. Besides, people find it easy to use plastic items and it is another reason for the reduction in the use of bamboo and cane items.
As a result, the people involved in producing bamboo and cane items are leaving their regular profession and getting engaged in other professions. But, some few people are still involved in the profession.
Sufia Khatun of Jamtoil village under Kamarkhand upazila said, "We need winnowing fan to extract rice from paddy. A winnowing fan made with bamboo costs about Tk 40 to 50 whereas a plastic one costs Tk 30. Besides, the plastic items are cheaper and easy to use."
Md Delwar Hossen of Shameshpur village under Belkuchi upazila said, "I have been engaged in the profession for the last 30 years. Once I made different bamboo and cane items. But, now these items have lost demand. Now, I make only room ceiling and mat with bamboo but their demand is very nominal. As there is no alternative, I am still in this profession."
Labourer Abdul Mannan of Khokshabari union under Sadar upazila said, "Earlier different bamboo-made items were sold much. We used to make the items after working day and night. But, due to the aggression of plastic items, the use of bamboo and cane items has decreased. Besides, due to price of hike of bamboo, the items made with it have become pricey. As a result, people are hardly buying the items."
Shakman Ali of Shibpur village under Dhamainagar union in Raiganj upazila said, "We had big bamboo clusters once. People from different parts of the district used to come here to buy bamboo. We maintained our livelihood by selling the bamboo. But, gradually its demand has reduced. As a result, the number of bamboo clusters has also become few. Now, we are cultivating other crops on the spot of the bamboo clusters."
Ratan of Jhaoil village under Kamarkhand upazila said, "Now bamboo and cane are hardly found. But, the lump sum bamboos which are found are costly. We cannot maintain our livelihood by making the bamboo items like before. Many of us have changed their ancestral profession. But still some are in this profession as there is no alternative."
Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) in Sirajganj Md Arshed Ali said, "We have no data about bamboo production in the district. But once numerous bamboo clusters were found in Sadar, Tarash, Belkuchi, Kamarkhand, Raiganj and Chouhali upazilas. It requires huge space for cultivating bamboo and cane. As the growers are getting more profit from the cultivation of other crops, so they are losing interest in bamboo and cane farming. As a result, bamboos and canes have become dear nowadays. But, we are advising the farmers to protect bamboo and cane."





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