Badasahi: Thousands of people belonging to tribal communities used to eke out their living from sabai grass and by collecting minor forest produce.
Some people even cultivated sabai grass to meet its high demand. However, now, its cultivation is declining in the district due to lack of marketing facilities for sabai products. Entry of plastic items in a big way has also dented the demand for sabai merchandise.
Sabai grass, a natural fibre, is abundantly grown in the hilly areas like Jadunathpur, Kamalashol, Purnachandrapur, Beladunguri and Astajharan in tribal-dominated Badashi block.
The grass was initially used for rope-making. But later, its use was diversified into making various craft and decorative items. Women workers, mostly belonging to tribal communities, had been given special training in making sabai items.
The grass is harvested in May and June. After harvesting, it is bound in bundles and sold in the markets and to traders. People make ropes from sabai grass and sell them in the markets. But the demand for sabai grass has declined over the years, because plastic ropes are available in the market at cheaper rates, said Sanatan Mohant and Bikash Mohant.
Sabai grass farmers said the government should provide them financial assistance, training, high yielding seeds and pesticides, besides creating marketing facilities. If these steps are initiated, they would be encouraged to take up the cultivation again.
Over the years, many farmers have given up this farming due to lack of marketing facility of the grass.
Odisha Rural Development and Marketing Society (ORMAS) first took an initiative to promote the sabai grass industry some years ago. Farmers here expect the district administration to take an active role in promoting the farming in this block.
When Rajesh Prabhakar Patil was the district Collector, he had adopted a multi-pronged approach to empower women (SHGs) financially and socially by training them in the art and craft of making sabai grass items.
ORMAS has been training SHGs and making marketing tie-ups with organisations. Sabai items from the district are also sold online.
Locals said, if SHGs in Badasahi block are imparted training in sabai grass craft, it will push the demand for its farming in the block. They said the administration should encourage local tribal communities to grow the grass in unused and waste land.
Unemployed youths could be made self sufficient through grass farming and training in craft making, said locals like Baji Singh, Ajay Tudu and Laxmikant Hansda.
PNN