PROCESS DOCUMENT ON MAKING BAMBOO STICKS FOR INCENCE STICK INDUSTRY AT KOKRAJHAR

Supported By :
National Mission on Bamboo Applications,
TIFAC, Department of Science & Technology, Govt. of India, New Delhi-16, India.

Organized By :
Bodoland Bamboo Development Board,
Bodoland Territorial Council, Kokrajhar-783370, India.

Technology Partner By :
Andhra Pradesh Technology Development & Promotion Centre,
Hyderabad-500015, Andhra Pradesh, India.

Important Points in Bodoland area:
1.Creation of sustainable livelihood opportunities thru utilization of bamboo resource is the prime objective
2.Bamboo sticks making activity provides additional income to the Non-forest or forest dependant communities, while working from their homes
3.Thru making sticks for Incense stick (agarbathi) industry, sale price of ton of bamboo is multiplied by 8 to 9 times (Rs.2,000/- per ton of bamboo & Rs.16,000/- to Rs.18,000/- per ton for sticks).
4.Approximate recovery of sticks from slivers : 75% by weight
5.Approximate recovery of sticks from bamboos : 40% for 8” sticks / 50% for 9” sticks / 60% for 10” sticks (by weight) i.e. approximately - 2.5 ton / 2.0 ton / 1.5 ton of bamboos for making one ton of 8” sticks / 9” sticks / 10” sticks respectively.
6.Any reduction in pricing of bamboos, compared to open sale value of pole, is, towards providing sustainable livelihoods with reasonable earnings while meeting the market pricing.

Tools & Gadgets:

1.Table mounted wood working saw
2.Peelers (peetalu – big & small)
3.Grinding stone for polishing of worn out peeler blades
4.Waste rubber cycle tube
5.Jute twine / plastic sutli
6.Poly-sacks (used urea bags to reduce cost of packing)
7.Weighing balance
8.Permanent marker (bold sketch pen)
9.Ledgers / bill books etc., for record keeping
10.Display boards to indicate - orders to be delivered, stock position, targets, sale price & payments for various stages of processing etc.,

Quality aspects :
1.Bamboo Sticks have to be free from epidermal layer (bamboo skin), which prevents sticking of charcoal, saw dust and other ingredients mix (masala)
2.All sticks have to be of equal dimensions, in terms of cross section & length
3.To meet the count (number of sticks per kg) for the respective lengths of sticks
4.Sticks have to be free from loose fibres, which causes un-even surface and poor sticking & separation of masala, during rolling, packing & usage.
5.Moisture present in sticks should have to be within the prescribed limit to avoid formation of stains, due to fungal attack during storage, transport.

Stepwise Process of making bamboo sticks:
1.Harvesting & transportation of bamboo : Bamboos are to be harvested as per the suggested practice & transported to Gaurang Bamboo Training Center - by suitable means
2.Cross cutting in Center : Bamboos have to be cross cut to the required size, 8” / 9”/10” etc., using a wood working saw
3.Sliver making in center : Cross cuts (bamboo pipes) have to be manually converted into slivers using heavy duty peelers (pedda peetalu), laid on floor or mounted on stands
4.Stick Making by individuals at their homes : Slivers have to be manually converted into sticks, using light duty peelers, (chinna peetalu) laid on floor, at Gaurang residences
5.Drying : Sticks are to be dried under the sun, on stone / cemented surfaces by individuals at their residences

6.Removal of loose fibres : Immediately after drying, sticks have to be tied together with a waste rubber cycle tube and rubbed on a rough surface (road / stone) and do tapping
7.Bundling & Transporting of sticks to Training Center : after removing loose fibres, sticks have to be bundled and sent to Center
8.Quality checking in Center : sticks have to be checked for uniform cross section, length, count, top skin (epidermal layer), loose fibres, stains & luster
9.Final Packing : individual bundles will be packed in poly-sacks (used urea bags) & marked as per the need
10.Conversion charges : Payments will be made to members, depending on the effort involved at specific stage of conversion & net revenues earned by the Gaurang Bamboo Training Center
Bamboo Species suggested:

1.Buyers have accepted Bamboo sticks made from Dendrocalmus Strictus (Shal banh) & Bambusa Tulda (Jati banh).
2.However, D’ Strictus & B. tulda (the mostly available bamboo species in Boboland area ) only be used, since further high value added products are possible for B.tulda

Length & Count of finished bamboo sticks:

1.8 inch long sticks : 3800 to 4000 sticks / kg
2.9 inch long sticks : 3000 to 3150 sticks / kg
3.11 inch long sticks : 2250 to 2650 sticks / kg

Size of bamboos to be used:

1.Girth : over 50 mm
2.Wall thickness : over 6 mm
3.Inter-nodal distance : above 20 cm (or 8 inch)
4.Length : long bamboos / cuts
*Bamboo of any girth & length can be used for sticks as long as the inter-nodal distance is above 8 inch & it is possible to process.

Harvesting & Transporting:

1.Bamboos can be harvested as per the prevailing norms & transported by suitable means i.e. bullock carts / tractor / lorry
2.Slivers will be taken from Center to residences by individual or as a pool
3.Green bamboos can be processed easily. Dry bamboos need to be soaked in water for a day

Cross cutting of bamboo into desired lengths:

1.Bamboos have to be cross-cut to desired lengths i.e. into pipes of 8” / 9” / 10” / 11” etc.,.
2.Hacksaw or a power operated wood working saw, need to be used, as per the quantity of bamboos to be processed.
3.Individuals/ Group can use a hacksaw & a center requires power operated wood working saw

Making of slivers & bundling:

1.From cross cut bamboos, slivers will have to be made, manually, on a heavy duty peeler, using a wooden block, thru pushing cross cuts (bamboo pipes) against the peeler blade.
2.These peeler can be laid on floor or mounted on two logs, aligned like a stand
3.5 kg to7 kg of slivers will be bundled together

Making sticks from slivers:

1.Sliver bundles will be taken from Gaurang Center to residences by SHG’s members, individually or as a pool by suitable means of transport.
2.Sticks will have to be made, manually, by pushing slivers (1,2,3,4 strips at a time, upon experience) against the peeler blade.
3.Peeler (Peeta) will be laid on the floor at an angle.

Solar drying of sticks on a stone / cemented surface :

1.Moisture from the above sticks has to be removed thru solar drying, to avoid fungal attack
2.Also, drying will help to separate the unwanted loose fibres from sticks
3.Bamboo sticks can easily be dried, by spreading on a stone / cemented surface under the sun.
Removal of loose fibres / blisters:

1.Duly dried sticks will be immediately tied together with a waste rubber cycle tube
2.This bundle is manually rubbed on a hard surface (road, cemented surface, stone), till loose fibres gets separated
3.Trapped loose fibres are separated by taking out the rubber tube & tapping with hand
Quality checking & logging of quantities delivered :
Bamboo sticks / bundles will be manually checked against –
1.Count (no. of sticks per kg)
2.Uniformity (equal cross section and length)
3.Presence of sticks with top layer (epidermal layer)
4.Moisture content / stains
5.Fresh glow / luster
6.Production quantities are noted down against the respective Gaurang member
Bundling & Packing :
1.After quality checking, sticks will be bundled with plastic / Jute twine, into 2.5 kg bundles.
2.15 bundles (=30 kg) will be further packed into plastic bags and stocked for dispatching
3.Quantities & delivery schedules depend on costs involved & terms of trade
Records at Gaurang Bamboo Training Center
Details to be maintained at Gaurang Bamboo Training Center (by community entrepreneur or community manager or coordinator) :
1.Details of SHG’s members
2.Quantity of bamboo procured / processed
3.Cross cuts made
4.Quantity of slivers produced
5.Quantity of sticks produced
6.Details of payments made
7.Other incidental expenses
8.Sales realisation
9.Surplus generate
Payments :
1.Payments will be made to S.H.G’s members / contracted workers, for various stages of processing, depending on the effort & net revenues earned
2.Payments can be made once in 7 days or as per the need
3.Separate registers are to be maintained for cross cutting, slivers making, sticks making, Center manager (coordinator / marketing person etc., if any) etc.,
Utilization of waste bamboo cuts & process waste:
1.Waste bamboos can be further converted into sticks (4 mm X 10 mm X 42 mm), for ice cream / kulfi, which fetches around Rs.5,000 /- per ton.
2.Waste bamboos / process waste can be converted into charcoal which can be sold to incense stick rollers / manufacturers.
3.Waste / small / not useful bamboos can be sold to paper mills, nurseries etc., at around Rs.1500/- per ton
Infrastructure & Utilities required:
1.Storage yard for raw bamboos & process waste
2.Electricity for cross cutting machine, lighting etc.
3.Covered area for keeping - cross cutting machine, peelers (on floor / stands), stocking of slivers, sticks bundles etc.
4.Display boards to indicate- production targets / stock position / buyers details etc.,
5.Plastic bags for packing
6.Bold sketch pen (permanent marker )
7.Storing area for ledgers etc.

Plz. Cont: Consultant(Bamboo),
Mobile: +91-9436496101
email:jamatiasamir@yahoo.com

BODOLAND BAMBOO POLICY

# Preamble

a. Bamboo has played an important part in the lives of the people of Bodoland, and has been an integral part of the cultural, social and economic traditions of the Bodoland Territorial Council (sixth schedule of the constitution of India in 2003). It is a renewable and versatile resource, and an important component of the wealth of Bodoland. It grows in the natural non-forest or forests, and is cultivated in homesteads, groves and on private plantations. It is utilized in many ways, for housing, fencing, functional articles, agricultural implements, basketry, and even fuel and food. People possess traditional skills of working with the material, and knowledge of the cultivation and management of Bamboo. Rattan is also an important natural material for the Bodoland Territorial Council. Building on traditional patterns of usage, it has evolved to become the basis for many artisans and craft persons working bamboo furniture and craft products for the market.

b. Bamboo is an essential component of non-forest or forest ecosystem. In the hilly and mountainous areas as well as riverbanks elsewhere it protects the slopes from erosion as an effective soil binder. Bamboo forests are also home to many endangered wild life including a large number of birds. For the Wild Elephants, endangered Hoolock Gibbons, and some other fauna, it forms a major part of their diet.

c. In Bodoland, even today, by far the most important and visible uses of bamboo are at the household level, in every day lives of people. Bamboo is used extensively for house construction (walls, flooring, roofing, panels and partitions), fencing, agricultural and fishing implements, storage, basketry, household articles and other domestic applications and for economic activities such as cocoon rearing trays in sericulture. Some households also produce for the market - often as independent products for localized markets, making storage and carrying baskets, fishing traps agricultural implements, seed trays, mats and fencing material. Sometimes they function as subcontractors, on a piece rate basis. These activities are not normally carried out as a primary vocation, but supplement household income, especially in the lean season for agricultural activities.

d. In semi-urban areas, another development has taken place, in the form of the emergence of individual entrepreneurs, and clusters of bamboo activity. Such groups of craftsperson and micro-entrepreneurs manufacture an array of products for adjacent and even distant markets. The product range builds on its functional origins, and incorporates decorative and non-traditional products ranging from largely low value bamboo basketry to expensive bamboo furniture.

e. The overwhelming industrial use is however still for pulp and paper. The paper mills out the Bodoland area have a capacity of 8, 00,000 tones per annum, met largely from Bodoland, but to a lesser extent from the neighboring BTC. Much of the bamboo utilized in these spheres comes from the non-forest or forests through a system of contracts, leases and departmental operations.

f. Bamboo was extensively used in the construction industry as scaffolding, ladders and supports. This usage is declining, due to the increasing use of substitutes. Similarly, there is a perceptible decline in the use of bamboo for temporary structures in cities- in the tent house, market stall and low cost shelter categories. Bamboo is still, however, a widely used material for rural, low cost and traditional housing. It continues to be preferred because it is relatively cheap, easy to work with, and readily available.

g. The decline in the availability of timber and the emergence of new technologies and product options have spurred interest in the field of wood substitutes and composites. These include boards of different types- mat, corrugated, laminated, particle, wafer and chip. Some products provide promising linkages between the organized and unorganized sectors, between household activity and organized industry, for instance resin bonded boards made from hand woven mats. Edible bamboo shoots, processed for the market represent another promising area of economic activity.

h. In recent decades a number of factors have contributed to changing patterns of usage and demand for bamboo and rattan. The forests, traditional repositories of the resources, have come under the pressure of increasing population and encroachment, reduction in notified area, and degradation of biotic quality. Continued extraction of bamboo for pulp and paper to meet the demands of pulp and paper units outside the Bodoland, and the establishment of paper mills within the Bodoland has increased the industrial demand for bamboo. The reduction of forest cover and the degradation of its biotic quality have placed stresses, in particular, on Bamboo resources, which have substantially declined. At the same time, the emergence and growing popularity of synthetic materials- plastics and other engineered material has led to the decline of traditional craft and even skill. This has adversely impacted on the livelihoods of artisans and bamboo workers.

i. Despite this, Bodoland continues to be relatively well-endowed with resources of bamboo, in particular of bamboo. With a wide range of non- forest or forest types, the Bodoland area continues to support over thirty species of bamboo, excluding exotics. Most of these species are commercially significant and through new perspectives on cultivation and management are capable of supporting the needs of industrial and value added applications.

j. Recent advances in technology and in product and application, development have brought about a growing realization that bamboo in particular can be the vehicle for value addition, incremental income and employment. It is a material that lends itself easily to simple processing technologies. At the same time it is capable of being used for high end and high value products and applications.

k. The Bodoland is uniquely positioned to take advantage of these advances, to utilize its extensive natural resources, and the legacy of skill and knowledge harboured by its people, to provide for vastly enhanced economic activity, and create opportunities for employment and income.

l. The ' Bodoland Bamboo Policy' of the Bodoland Territorial Council is an important step in this direction.

# The Vision-Bamboo:

Bodoland Territorial Council (sixth schedule of the constitution of India in 2003) will encourage, promote and support the development of the bamboo sector in a comprehensive manner, through a multidisciplinary multidepartmental and multi-dimensional integrated approach to provide economic benefits to the people of the Bodoland Territorial Council area.

1. The objectives of the policy are to support, facilitate and catalyze:

a. Development and implementation of a sustainable community based production model for bamboo with concomitant benefits for non-forest or forest conservation

b. Development and implementation of an economic development program using bamboo for spurring industrial development

c. Enhancing employment and income generating opportunities using bamboo as the prime resource

d. Protection and preservation of ecosystem in BTC areas, especially protection of slopes and riverbanks, and for sustained productivity. Conservation of biodiversity, as a large number of endangered species use bamboo forest as habitat and many take it as part of their diet. All varieties of native bamboo species shall be protected and germplasm preserved.

2. The thrust and application areas for the implementation of this vision will include

a. Manufacture of value added products and applications, such as wood and plywood substitutes, composite rnaterial, charcoal, activated carbon and energy

b. Housing and constructional applications involving the use of bamboo and bamboo composite material, in the field of low cost and mass housing and earthquake resistant construction

c. Processed edible bamboo shoot

d. Craft, and small enterprises

e. Resource development within and outside forest areas including regeneration and conservation

f. Capacity building in technical institutions, universities and colleges, to support the intensification and deepening of bamboo based activity

g. Skill up gradation and training

h. Dissemination of technical and sectoral knowledge and creation of awareness, about the potential afforded by bamboo and the related economic opportunities.

i. Market analysis and support

# The raw material front

The Bodoland Territorial Council area shall endeavour to enhance the availability and quality of bamboo, and provide a facilitating and enabling environment for the cultivation, extraction and movement of bamboo to industries, craft groups and other users.

1. The Bodoland Territorial Council shall:

a. Review the access and regulatory regime for the cultivation, harvesting and movement of bamboo, including the system of transit permits, and the felling and extraction rules in forest areas, taking into account the fact that it is a grass and a renewable resource, and the need to develop and promote its usage, in particular for value added applications.

b. Take steps to improve the quality, productivity and outturn of bamboo from non- forest or forest areas through development of plant material capabilities, adoption of intensive management and input approaches, scientific management of forest based bamboo resources, systematic and block plantation of commercially significant species and improved harvesting and post harvest practices

c. Encourage non-Government and entrepreneur based plantation on private land, homesteads, and wasteland through provision of extension services, induction of quality plant material and Other forms of support

d. Promote the up gradation, acquisition and dissemination of knowledge and practices for the bamboo sector, through involvement of research institutions, universities and colleges, Government agencies, NGOs, communities, users, and link them with national/ international resource agencies and institutions

e. Take steps to update existing management practices based on end use and to down-stream the same to the communities

f. Establish Bambusetum at least at one location in the Bodoland Territorial Council

2. The Bodoland Territorial Council shall:

a. Review the feasibility and desirability of declaring bamboo as a horticultural crop, to encourage the systematic plantation and management of bamboo resources.

b. Encourage and support the development of bamboo markets and the development of grading systems for raw bamboo.

c. Develop and encourage maturity making systems at the cultivator level.

# Bringing in Bodoland's strength- the Bodos community and the people

The role of the BTC in achieving the above objectives would be that of a facilitator and promoter of activities in each of the areas outlined in the approach. The strategic direction and thrust would be provided by the Bodoland Bamboo Development Board while the community and the private sector would be the implementers of the strategy.

1. Bamboo provides subsistence and livelihood security to communities and it is a part of the cultural, social and economic traditions of the Bodoaland. Bodos community based development approach would be adopted for the sector though active participation and involvement of communities under Joint Forest Management (JFM), Bamboo Development Agency under cluster cooperatives of artisans, and other mechanisms. VCDC would also be involved in promotion and development of bamboo.

# The Market

The Bodoland Bamboo Policy is predicated on the adoption of market-led community based development and demand driven approaches.

1. The Bodoland Territorial Council shall.

a. Take effective steps for developing local manufacturing capability to encourage local demand and, in turn, increase the effective demand for raw material, and the returns to cultivators.

b. Support plantation on priority of commercially significant species of bamboo.

c. Involve the community in decision making for resource generation and management, and review Bodoland regulatory mechanism that inhibit such people and community centered participation.

d. Promote market led stimulation of bamboo growing as an economic activity by easing existing regulations relating to trade and movement of bamboo to ensure appropriate income generation to growers and extractors.

e. Provide market linkages, information and support to commercial units based on bamboo products in different applications segments.

f. To Provide bamboo Trade license for Notification, the rules made under Indian Forest Act,1927 and the Supreme Court Order, Dated-15-01-1998 in the writ petition (Civil) No. 202 of 2005 and under taken to abide by the same.

# Management of bamboo flowering:

Immediate steps would be taken to tackle ongoing bamboo flowering of Muli (Melocanna bambusoides) in Bodoland (Four districts) and other species in different areas.

1. These steps would include:

a. Covering maximum area under plantation program, preferably with superior bamboo species having industrial usage and applications provided that plantation of superior bamboo species for industrial usage should per done after examining its possible effect on local species and also other ecological aspects. Introduction of exotic species in large scale should be avoided at any cost. Moreover, natural Muli bamboo areas in the wild should not be disturbed by such plantations. Main thrust areas should be private and homestead plantations, and also some select areas under JFM.

b. Protection of flowered areas against fire and grazing to ensure establishment of profuse regeneration.

c. Harvesting/removal of flowering culms up to the extent silviculturally available which will reduce fire hazards and will also develop potential for large scale economic usage such as power generation, pulp production and mat weaving etc.

d. Documentation and cohort mapping of flowered areas

e. Ex-situ conservation of different cohorts;

f. Rodent pest management in affected areas of flowering

# Research and Development:

The focus of research and development would be to improve existing seedlings & nursery practices, packages of practices and site management practices for different end use applications of bamboo.

a. The Bodoland Territorial Council shall take steps to promote linkages between research institutions within the ITI, Kokrajhar amongst themselves, and with other such institutions in the country and outside.

b. The Bodoland Territorial Council shall disseminate information on technologies, products and applications, and set up a Bodoland Bamboo Technology Institute at appropriate locations in Kokrajhar to facilitate effective lab to land transfer. It shall carry out disseminations of technology through campaigns involving extension activities, media support, exhibitions and a programme of demonstrations.


# The implantation mechanism:

A Bodoland Bamboo Development Board (BBDB) will be constituted to promote and support the integrated development of the bamboo sector in the BTC area.

a. The Bodoland Bamboo Development Board (BBDB) would be constituted by the Bodoland Territorial Council as an autonomous, professionally managed nonprofit organization. It would be headed by a Chairman with a technical and professional background and experience. The Chairman would be assisted by a small group of subject and technical experts with professional experience relevant to the tasks of the Board.

b. ln the period before establishment and operationalization of the BBDB, a core group would be constituted in the Planning and Development Department, consisting of representatives on deputation from the Industries, Forests and Agriculture Departments, to carry out the tasks to be assigned later to the Board.

c. A Bodoland Bamboo Technology Institute (BBTI) would be established in the Bodoland, and managed by the BBDB. It will be developed as a demand driven center of excellence for extension and training in bamboo to ensure realization of their economic, social and environmental potential in the BTC as well as in the North-East. The proposed Institute would ensure networking, transfer, adaptation and dissemination of technology as well as capacity building in related sub-segments of bamboo development. It would also carry out application oriented research in relevant fields.

d. Funding support would be sought from the Government of India, the North-East Council and other bodies for the establishment of the Institute and related activities.

e. The Bodoland Territorial Council will Endeavour to provide funds for the development of the sector through the levy of a cuss, set as a proportion of the royalty payable on the extraction of bamboo from forest areas.

f. The resources realized from this case shall be utilized to support the functioning of the BBDB, the Bodoland Bamboo Technology Institute, and the creation of a corpus of funds to be managed by the BBDB to support projects in the BTC, government, non-governmental, community and private sectors to develop the bamboo sectors.

g. Projects taken up from resources available in this corpus shall be selected and approved by an Advisory Committee constituted by the BBDB, and consisting of technical personnel.

# The implantation Partners:

a. National Mission on Bamboo Applications (NMBA), Govt. of India, New Delhi
b. National Bamboo Mission (NBM), Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India, New Delhi
c. International Network for Bamboo and Rattan (INBAR), Beijing, China
d. Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), Govt. of India, New Delhi
e. North Eastern Council, Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region, Government of India, Shillong
f. Building Materials and Technology Promotion Council, New Delhi
g. Ministry of MSME, Govt. of India, New Delhi
h. Ministry of Environment & Forests, Govt. of India, New Delhi
i. Ministry of Labour, Govt. of India, New Delhi
j. National Institute of Design (NID), Ahamahadaba
k. Technical Support Group _Cane and Bamboo Technology Centre, Guwahati, Assam under National Bamboo Mission
l. World Bamboo Organization (WBO), USA
m. International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)
n. United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
o. The Adviser (Bamboo), Twipra Bamboo & Cane Handicrafts, Twipra, India for Founder of BBDB, BTC.

# Acts and Rules

1. Existing regulations applicable for Bamboo development sector would be reviewed and revised, to the extent possible, to suit the objectives and strategies out-lined under the policy.

# Monitoring

1. The Bodoland Bamboo Policy shall be implemented through appropriate action plans and implementation programmes for each strategic segment to be development by the concerned Department of the Bodoland Territorial Council.

2. A Bodoland Level Advisory Committee (SLAC) of the Bamboo Development would be formed under the Chairmanship of the Hon’ble Executive Member, Agriculture, BTC. The committee would monitor on a bi-annual basis the progress of action plans and implementation programmes for each strategic segment.

3. The Committee would also ensure that existing regulations applicable for Bamboo development sector are revised to achieve the objects of the policy.

Approved on behalf of the Bodoland Territorial Council



Sd/-
(Sri. Hargama Mohilary)
Hon’ble Chief of BTC,
Kokrajhar-783370, India

Sd/-
Sri. J.I. Kathar, IAS,
Principal Secretary,
Bodoland Territorial Council,
Kokrajhar



Sd/-
(Sri. Mitha Ram Basumatary)

Chairman,
Bodoland Bamboo Development Board,
Bodoland Territorial Council,
Kokrajhar-783370, India

MoU between INBAR and BBDB on 23 July, 2009 at Bodoland Territorial Council Secretariat Conference Hall, Kokrajhar, Bodoland, India

PROGRAMME ON THE INBAR, BEIJING, CHINA & BBDB, BODOLAND, INDIA

Hon’ble Chairman takes Chair
Sri. Hagarma Mahilary,
Hon’ble Chief of BTC,
Kokrajhar, Bodoland, India.

Welcome address & felicitation guests
Sri. J.I. Kathar, IAS, Principal Secretary,

BTC, Kokrajhar, India.

MoU objective & aim in INBAR
Dr. J. Coosje Hoogendoorn, Director General,

International Network for Bamboo and Rattan (INBAR), Beijing, P.R. China.

MoU objective & aim in BBDB
Sri. Mitha Ram Basumatary
Hon’ble Executive Member,
BTC, Kokrajhar, Bodoland, India &

Chairman, BBDB, BTC, India.

MoU Signing ceremony
INBAR___ BBDB

Presentation on Bamboo Shoot project (Food Processing Technology) in Central Institute of Technology, Kokrajhar-783370, Bodoland, India. In collaboration with BBDB, BTC, Kokrajhar, India.
Present by- Sri. R.K. Chawla,
Marketing Consultant (Bamboo shoot), NMBA, & Director,

Gee Gee (Food & Packing) Pvt. Ltd. New Delhi, India.

Feedback
Sri. Hagarma Mahilary,
Hon’ble Chief of BTC,
Kokrajhar, Bodoland, India.

Vote of thanks
Sri. Arun Kumar Basumatary
Under Secretary, BTC, India.

Visit to CIT
Welcome from CIT
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING

Between

The INTERNATIONAL NETWORK FOR BAMBOO AND RATTAN (INBAR)
BEIJING, CHINA
and
The BODOLAND BAMBOO DEVELOPMENT BOARD
BODOLAND, INDIA

This Memorandum of Understanding, entered into
BETWEEN
INTERNATIONAL NETWORK FOR BAMBOO AND RATTAN with its secretariat at No: 8, Fu Tong Dong Da Jie, Wang Jing Area, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100102, P.R. China, represented by its Director General, Dr. J. Coosje Hoogendoorn, hereafter referred to as INBAR;
and
BODOLAND BAMBOO DEVELOPMENT BOARD, with its office at 2nd Floor, Directorate of Agriculture, Bodoland Territorial Council, Kokrajhar-783370, Bodoland, India, represented by the hon’ble Chairman & Executive Member, Bodoland Territorial Council, Sri. Mitha Ram Basumatary, hereafter referred to as BBDB;

WITNESSETH

WHEREAS, INBAR is an inter-governmental international organization that undertakes, through a world wide network of intergovernmental, governmental and non-governmental organizations, community-based organizations, commercial companies, research organizations and individuals, the coordination and support of strategic and adaptive research and development of bamboo and rattan resources to improve the well-being of producers and users within the context of a sustainable bamboo and rattan resource base, with activities in the areas of natural and cultivated raw materials, the conservation and use of genetic resources, processing and utilisation, innovation and dissemination of new products, bamboo housing, economic and social development, and information dissemination and technology transfer; and is the International Commodity Body for Bamboo and Rattan of the Common Fund for Commodities, a UN financial instrument;

WHEREAS, INBAR is governed by a Board of Trustees charged with responsibility to set policy and develop a strategic plan for INBAR; approve projects, programs and budgets; and monitor and assess progress of the network and report to member countries and donors;

WHEREAS, BBDB is notified under Bodoland Territorial Council (sixth schedule of the Constitution of India in 2003) under National Bamboo Mission; National Mission on Bamboo Applications; North Eastern Council; Development Commissioner (Handicrafts); Building Materials and Technology Promotion Council; Ministry of MSME; Ministry of Environment & Forests; Ministry of Labour, India; programme of the Bodoland Territorial Council, India.

WHEREAS, BBDB carries out and supports a wide range of activities related to the development of the bamboo sector on technology, marketing, plantation as a livelihood in Bodoland. The core application areas of the BBDB include:
1. Promotion of bamboo sector development as an essential component of rural development strategy linked with Non-forestry and agri-business sector in BTC.
2. Promotion of bamboo based SME’s (Small and medium scale enterprise) for value addition to bamboo and for generating assured income.
3. Revitalization and promotion of local traditional Bamboo craft and art with improved technology, design and market linked trade.
4. Promotion of bamboo as an essential wood substitute and enterprises manufacturing bamboo-based NTFP’s substitutes, thereby reducing pressure on Non-forests or forests and reducing bamboo deficiency in BTC.
5. Promotion of awareness and understanding of bamboo as “Green Gold” among Farmers, traders, industries in BTC with a view to utilizing its full potential and to galvanize the rural and industrial sector in BTC.

WHEREAS, BBDB has been mandated by the Bodoland Territorial Council, Kokrajhar of the Government of India for developing and managing projects, programmes and activities that support the development and commercialization of the bamboo sector in Bodoland, India.

WHEREAS INBAR and BBDB recognize the particular role of each party in advancing and supporting activities related to the generation and dissemination of improved technologies and applications to increase sustainable employment and livelihood opportunities, economic development and environmental benefits, through the wise development and use of bamboo resources.

NOW THEREFORE, motivated by their common interest in the use of bamboo for poverty eradication and sectoral development through generation of sustainable employment and livelihood opportunities by contributing to livelihood security, ecological security and food security, and economic development in a sustainable environmental framework, both parties have agreed, subject to the availability of human, financial and other resources, on the general conditions as herein contained.

NOW, THEREFORE THIS MOU WITNESSETH AS UNDER:-
Article
Collaboration
1. INBAR agrees to provide technical and technology support for development and implementation of the project on bamboo shoots which shall broadly comprise:
i. Technology Transfer for food processing technologies

ii. Technical advice and consultation for equipment procurement
iii. Drafting international/national standards and codes of bamboo shoot products

iv. Market analysis of bamboo shoot products (domestic and international)
v. Curriculum development for trainings at the Central Institute of Technology (CIT), Kokrajhar, Bodoland.
vi. Developing, adapting, validating and disseminating appropriate, new and improved technologies for bamboo and bamboo shoots products
vii. Training and capacity building activities including exchange of information through visits of experts to shoot processing units, joint workshops, meetings and publications

2. BBDB shall make available the necessary infrastructure arrangements including land, buildings, equipments and any such requirements for development of the project
3. Cooperation on relevant NTFP-related subjects, including cooperation with the INBAR-led Global NTFP Partnership
4. BBDB agrees to make available the necessary funds for development and implementation of the project activities
5. The collaborative activities and programmes indicated in this MOU are subject to budgetary appropriations available to each party, and applicable laws and regulations of each party and member countries of INBAR where activities or programmes may be implemented
6. INBAR and BBDB shall enter into separate Project Implementation agreements with specific Terms of Reference and Budgets

Article II
Interdisciplinary Activities
7. BBDB recognizes INBAR’s broader role in global networking and supporting activities in bamboo and rattan production, genetic resources, socioeconomic issues, information and human resource development, post-production, utilization, marketing and processing which can complement the activities that the BBDB undertakes in the area of the generation of sustainable employment and livelihood opportunities using bamboo. Therefore, BBDB and INBAR resolve to collaborate to ensure that interdisciplinary or multidisciplinary activities are well coordinated to achieve greatest positive impact on the development of the sector in India. BBDB will work with, support and complement INBAR in its work on social, economic and environmental aspects of bamboo.
8. INBAR and the BBDB will endeavor to strengthen the collaborative research and training activities on bamboo sustainable employment and livelihood opportunities and promote exchange of information through workshops, meetings and publications.
9. Publications that are developed jointly will be reviewed and approved by each party.

Article III
Coordination
10. The competent authorities of each party will identify a staff member as contact person, for the co-ordination of joint activities.
11. Unless specifically agreed otherwise by both parties, data and results generated from agreed collaborative activities will belong to the two institutions and will be governed by specific agreements in this regard. Any article, document and publication that report on collaborative activity shall acknowledge its collaborative nature and obtain the approval of the competent authorities of the two organizations. For other activities, the parties will cooperate in information services including document delivery and results dissemination that from time to time will be mutually agreed.
12. BBDB and INBAR are not empowered to commit each other either expressly or otherwise to any course of action.

Article IV
Intellectual Property Rights
13. The documents, technology, products and information generated out of this MoU shall be the joint property of INBAR and BBDB. This would be made available in the public domain as well as in the Parties’ respective websites based on consensus.
14. The Parties agree that any form of reproduction, dissemination and sharing would be done based on mutually agreed terms and conditions.
15. Unless specifically agreed otherwise by the Parties, data and results generated from agreed collaborative activities shall belong to INBAR and BBDB and shall be governed by both the parties jointly by specific agreements in this regard.
16. Any article, document and publication that report on collaborative activity shall acknowledge its collaborative nature and obtain the approval of the competent authorities of the two organizations. For other activities, the Parties shall cooperate in information services including document delivery and results dissemination from time to time as shall be mutually agreed.

Article V
Amendment to the MoU
17. Amendment to this MoU shall be made by mutual consent of the Parties in writing. No variation in the terms of scope of this MoU shall be valid or binding unless previously expressly agreed upon in writing between the Parties in the form of a letter entitled "Amendment to MoU".

Article VI
Dispute Settlement Mechanism
18. Both the parties hereby agree that before approaching any court of law, they would enter into discussions regarding any points of conflict through direct negotiations.
19. Both the parties agree that the disputes not settled amicably shall be submitted exclusively to an Arbitrator appointed on mutual agreement. The resulting award by the Arbitrator shall be final and binding on both the parties.

Article VII
Entry into Force and Term
20. MoU comes into effect on the date of signing by both the parties. The validity of this MoU shall be for five years with renewal for a similar period based on review, necessary modifications and mutual consensus.
21. Each party shall have the right to withdraw from the Agreement on six months notice in writing. Such a termination will, however, not affect activities already approved jointly or under the progress under the terms of this Memorandum.
22. All notices, requests, reports, documents and other information and communications relating to this MOU shall be in writing in the English language.
This Memorandum is signed on this 23rd day of July 2009 in two originals in the English language, both texts being equally authentic.

FOR THE INTERNATIONAL NETWORK FOR BAMBOO AND RATTAN
Signed : Sd/-
Name : Dr J Coosje Hoogendoorn
Title : Director General
Date : 23-July-2009
Under signed by
Sd/-
T.P. Subramony, Regional Coordinator (South Asia), INBAR

FOR THE BODOLAND BAMBOO DEVELOPMENT BOARD
Signed : Sd/-
Name : Sri. Mitha Ram Basumatary
Title : Chairman
Date : 23-July-2009
Under signed by
sd/-
Mc. Samir jamatia, Consultant, BBDB

Approved on behalf of the Bodoland Territroial Council, Kokrajhar-783370, Bodoland, India.
Sd/-
Sri. Hagrama Mohilary,
Hon’ble Chief of BTC
Kokrajhar, Bodoland, India.