With an objective to spread knowledge on traditional use and
application of bamboo, the first ever 5-day World Bamboo Workshop (WBW)
in India begins in Imphal on Monday.
This is the third workshop
organised by World Bamboo Organization (WBO) USA in association with
Manipur government in the series after the first held at Mexico in 2017,
second in Peru in 2018.
The event is organised every year with an
objective to bring all the scientific, technical and traditional
knowledge available around the world in bamboo at that particular place.
The inaugural function of the workshop which is scheduled to continue till February 8 was attended by Manipur Chief Minister, Nongthombam Biren Singh
along with state’s Commerce and Industries Minister Thongam Biswarjit
Singh, Forest and Environment Minister, Th Shyamkumar besides President
Michel Abadei and Executive director Susanne Lucas of WBO.
The education minister Th Radheshyam, MLAs and state chief secretary, Dr Suresh Babu also attended the inaugural function.
With
the presence of intellectuals and experts working in bamboo in the
bamboo workshop, Chief Minister, N Biren also hoped that the region
would get benefits from the experts hands. He also hoped that the
workshops would help prepare future road map of Bamboo in Manipur.
According
to officials, two memorandum of understanding (MoUs) will be signed
between Manipur Government and two companies –Dicma Trade, Mexico and
Bangalore based Growmore biotech for bamboo tissue culture and
cultivation etc.
More than a dozen stalls were opened at the city
convention centre, the main venue of the workshop, while another 50 more
stalls were opened at the Hafta Kangjeibing at palace compound in
Imphal to showcase bamboo related items and handicrafts.
Besides a
food stall was also introduced during the workshop for three days
(February 4-6) to conduct bamboo food cooking competition among 20
intending competitors as the region is known for its bamboo diversity.
The
five days event at Imphal will have lectures, hands-on training,
exhibitions, cultural shows, and more on bamboo. Around 200 participants
including participants from two dozen foreign countries have registered
join the workshop.
