University students, artisans, and entrepreneurs learnt about bamboo treatment and processing at a five-day-long training program from February 9 to 13, 2022.
Participants learnt about treatment processes like dip diffusion, sap displacement using boucherie (wood preserving method), Vaccum Pressure Impregnation (VPI) method, and so on during the training program organized by the Bamboo and Cane Development Institute (BCDI) of the Northeast Centre for Technology Application and Reach (NECTAR), Agartala, an autonomous institute of the Department of Science and Technology (DST).
Information on different types of preservatives and its applications at different concentrations was demonstrated. Penetration test was also explained and demonstrated to the participants. In bamboo processing, hands-on practical exposure was given to various machine operations like a cross-cut machine, chain splitter, knot removing machine, round stick machine, slicer, and four side planning machine.
Dr. Arun Kumar Sarma, DG, NECTAR, interacted with the participants and shared his views on the importance of such training to fill the know-how gap and motivate them for developing innovative products. Dr. Abhinav Kant, Head, BCDI-NECTAR, briefed the participants about the highlights of the training program. Prof. Sabyasachi Dasgupta, Head, Forestry and Biodiversity Department, Tripura University, also appreciated the training contents.
Bamboo culm (bamboo shoot), as well as processed bamboo in the form of poles, spits, slats, and sticks, provides an excellent raw material for value-added products. But bamboo is prone to fungal and borer attacks, which ultimately reduces product life. Though a wide range of preventive measures are known to control such attacks, their spread is limited due to lack of knowledge, awareness, infrastructure, and economics involved. The training aimed to provide information on different ways of treatment and processing through presentations as well as hands-on practical sessions.
Glimpse of the Training Program
