No.423/2021-2022

Aizawl the 30th November, 2021 : Commerce & Industries Minister Dr R. Lalthangliana yesterday inaugurated Bamboo Processing Factory at Sairang, developed by the Mizoram Bamboo Development Agency through Rs. 125 lakhs funds received from the National Bamboo Mission.

The Bamboo Processing Factory has 5 units, with each unit equipped with 5 Cross Cutting Machines, 9 Manual splitting Machines, 10 Slicing Machines, 20 Round Stick Making Machines, 6 Polishing Machines, 5 Stick sizing Machines And 2 Blade Sharpening Machines. The factory is expected to produce 25 metric tonnes of Agarbatti sticks per month, to be supplied to N Ranga Rao & Sons Pvt Ltd. The factory is designed to be a zero waste unit, with wastages to be further processed as bamboo charcoal and bamboo vinegar. This is the 9th Agarbatti stick manufacturing unit developed by the Mizoram Bamboo Development Agency, with units already set up at Bamboo Technology Park, Sairang, Zuangtui Industrial estate, Thingsulthliah and Darlawng villages.

In his inaugural speech, the Commerce & Industries Minister congratulated the Mizoram Bamboo Development Agency on successful implementation of the project, and stated that Mizoram Government is committed towards improving the economy and livelihood of the people by harnessing the rich natural resources that the State has been endowed with. Commenting on the need to have a strategic vision, the Minister stated, “We should not develop products in isolation. Rather we should study the market, our potential competitors and various supply chain issues. With each new industrial initiative, we have to meticulously plan ahead on how and to whom we are supplying our finished products.”

The Minister also commented on the recent burgeoning entrepreneurship ecosystem in Mizoram, and remarked that it gives him high hope to see more and more Mizo firms coming up with innovative ideas, and succeeding in their chosen field and areas of interest. It may be noted that at the recently published India Today’s State of the States 2021, Mizoram was adjudged the Most Improved Small State Economy for the fourth year in a row, and also the Most Improved Small State in Entrepreneurship.

Dr. Elizabeth Saipari, Mission Director, National Bamboo Mission reported that the Mizoram team has, in the past few years, travelled to different parts of India and abroad to study various species of bamboo and their uses. She also reported that they are currently cultivating two species – “Brandisii” and “Rawmi” in a 700 hectares plot of land.

The inaugural program was attended by Dr. K. Pachhunga, MLA, Bamboo Development Board Vice-Chairman, MLA, Pu Zothantluanga, Pu Lalduhpuia Sailo, Dy. General Manager, Bamboo Development Agency, Pi Esther Lalruatkimi, Executive Chairman, Bamboo Development Agency, Pi Florence Zotluangpuii, Executive Director, Bamboo Development Agency and officials of Commerce & Industries Department, Bamboo Development Board & Bamboo Development Agency.