Meghalaya govt urges bamboo growers to go on intensive cultivation

Shillong, Aug 21 (UNI) The Meghalaya government has urged bamboo growers to go on an intensive cultivation to provide a viable alternative employment avenue.

Addressing the two-day state-level workshop on ''Development of suitable strategy for the promotion of Bamboo sector in Meghalaya'' here today, Mr V S Oberoi, Principal Secretary to the Meghalaya government, said, '' Bamboo is a renewable economic resources having immense potential for improving the quality of life of rural and urban communities with environment regeneration qualities.

Though, bamboo was traditionally grown wild in North Eastern states, Mr Oberoi stressed on the need for adding more value to the bamboo products to transform rural economy.

With the introduction of the new bamboo technology, the Principal Secretary said the quality of bamboo production in the state would improve.

Mr S C Dey, secretary general of Global Tiger Forum, urged the Meghalaya government to draft the state bamboo policy to streamline bamboo production in the state.

Mizoram and Tripura had already taken up bamboo as a means of livelihood development of the local people and exploring market linkage even in South East Asian countries.

UNI