Malkangiri/Korukonda: In a bid to promote sale of bamboo ware, encourage bamboo cultivation and protect bamboo forests, a district-level workshop was held Monday on the premises of Balimela forest range office.
Malkangiri DFO Samrat Gouda presided over a meeting held on the occasion.
Taking part in the programme, chief conservator of forests (southern range) M Malath Mohan, Rayagada DFO P Sanjiv Reddy, Jeypore DFO Asini Kumar Kar and other officials imparted training on bamboo cultivation and making of bamboo products to participants.
The field officers of forest department and members of forest conservation committees attended the workshop.
Earlier, natural bamboo forests were the only source of raw material for the paper industries of the state and neighbouring states. Lack of awareness among tribals has left bamboo forests on the verge of extinction, the speakers said on the occasion. The next generation of tribal community would be deprived of the skill of making bamboo ware unless forests are protected, they added.
Men and women of tribal community of Doraguda in Sindhrimal panchayat taught the skill of making bamboo products to participants. The artistes of Kudumulugumma enacted street plays to create awareness on the utility of bamboo and protection of forests during the programme.
At least 100 emergency solar lights were distributed among participants. PNN
