Manipur’s decreasing bamboo supply hurts artisans

A. Itomacha Meitei of Patsoi village in Imphal West district of Manipur has been making traditional bamboo baskets for four decades. 

The 53-year-old makes two to three baskets of different sizes every day and sells them for Rs 250-350 at the local market and to wholesalers. 

Meitei claims he could double his production of baskets and increase his income – but can’t because of the shortage of bamboo. 

Decreasing bamboo supply

“Earlier, we used to get a regular supply of bamboo and we could work without any disruption,” he told Village Square. 

But now he has to wait for two to three days before he gets a fresh supply. 

“It hampers my business and lowers my income,” he added, with signs of worry clearly visible on his face.

We’re skilled in our jobs and make baskets within hours. But regular supply of bamboo is an issue now

It’s the same story for T. Bilashini Devi, 70, who makes fishnet baskets. The two to three pieces she makes every day sells for Rs 90-100 each, earning her Rs 3,000 per month.

But not now.

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“I’ve been making the fish net baskets for over five decades and can still make 4-5 daily but the supply of bamboo is not regular,” she said.

The village is a hub of craftsmen with 300 people making baskets and other household items from bamboo.  

“We’ve been doing this for generations as our ancestors also earned their livelihood with the same profession. We’re skilled in our jobs and make baskets within hours. But regular supply of bamboo is an issue now,” said Devi.

Manipur is losing bamboo cover

Their concern is not without reason as the hill-locked north-eastern state of Manipur is losing its green cover to rapid urbanisation leading to clearing of forest areas.

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Around 35 species of bamboo are found in Manipur. Bambusa tulda, Bambusa jaintiana and Gigantochloa andamanica are quite common which are used for housing, furniture, handicrafts, fencing, mat and basketry.

The basket makers said that they see less bamboo these days and it is decreasing with each passing day.

According to the latest Forest Survey of India (FSI) report, the total bamboo area in Manipur that stood at 10,687 sq km in 2017 reduced to 9,903 sq km in 2019. The bamboo area further decreased to 8,377 sq km in 2021. 

The decrease in supply has had such a severe impact that three paper mills – one in Nagaland and two in Assam – shut down operations three years ago due to unavailability of bamboo from Manipur, leading to several employees losing their livelihood.

“Earlier we used to see bamboo growing in every nook and corner of the villages. It’s always been a part of our lives as it is used in all our rituals – right from birth to death,” said K. Tabam Massi, 72, an artisan. “We had bamboo growing in our courtyards but urbanisation and increasing population is forcing people to clear them.” 

Bamboo scaffolding demands also cut resources

“Our families are becoming nuclear and multiple houses are being constructed,” said Massi. 

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While the villagers pointed out that the construction of roads and railway networks were taking a toll on the bamboo cover, the boom in the construction industry is further hurting them.

“Bamboo is used for making scaffoldings during the construction of buildings. So its demand has increased manifold during the past 10 years,” N. Somorendro Singh, assistant state mission director of National Bamboo Mission, Manipur, told Village Square.

Illegal poppy cultivation adds to woes

Poppy cultivation has also been leading to the decline of bamboo cover. 

There has been an increase in illegal poppy cultivation in the past few years mainly due to Manipur’s strategic location. 

It is close to Laos, Myanmar and Thailand, considered the golden triangle of drug trade among the South East Asian countries. Forest areas are being cleared for poppy cultivation. Despite a government crackdown, bamboo is losing out to poppy.

However, senior government officials said that the state government is serious about increasing the bamboo cover and is taking ample steps to increase bamboo production. 

The government took up bamboo cultivation in 1,245 hectares in 2018-19. Three bamboo processing units have also been established in different districts of the state and four handicraft units have been also set-up, according to Singh. 

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“The government also started 16 bamboo nurseries in the state during 2018-19. The state has around one lakh bamboo farmers,” said Singh, emphasising the state government’s efforts.

For bamboo promotion

Kamesh Salam, a bamboo crusader and founder of South Asia Bamboo Foundation, a non-profit trade association, pointed out that Manipur is not serious about promoting bamboo, unlike Kerala and Maharashtra. 

“Our security and paramilitary personnel can be the biggest buyers of bamboo products since they travel in large numbers from other states to their army base in different parts of the north-east. But sadly, bamboo products are not promoted much and plastic has already replaced it in many households,” said Salam. 

Unless serious efforts are taken, the situation will remain unchanged or might even decline further, according to him.

He suggested that the government departments and ministries should work together for bamboo promotion instead of working in parallel. 

“And our states’ sports personalities can be roped in as brand ambassadors to promote bamboo,” he suggested. 

The lead image shows bamboo trees, though they are fast declining in Manipur, affecting the livelihood of bamboo artisans (Photo courtesy Chuttersnap, Unsplash)

Gurvinder Singh is a journalist based in Kolkata.