Agartala, 26th April 2026 : . A workshop on “Improving Livelihoods of Bamboo Cultivators” was successfully organized by the NB Institute for Rural Technology (NBIRT) at ARKANEER, Sekerkote, West Tripura on April 18 last.
The workshop was conducted under the SUNIL Project, supported by the SEED Division, Department of Science and Technology, Government of India.
The session began with a brief introductory address delivered by Anup Dey, Project Officer, SUNIL Program of NBIRT. The inaugural session was virtually led by eminent scientist and Hony. President of NBIRT, Prof. (Dr.) S. P. Gon Chaudhury, who attended as the Inaugurator and Chief Guest. In his address, he elaborated on the objectives of the SUNIL Programme and highlighted its role in enhancing the livelihoods of bamboo cultivators. He outlined a roadmap for making cultivators economically self-reliant and emphasized the importance of technical training programmes. He also discussed the development of Biochar using new technologies in collaboration with Visva Bharati University and NBIRT, stressing sustainable practices and institutional support for strengthening the bamboo sector.
Subsequently, Er. Kapil Baran Bhowmik, CO-PI elaborated on the activities of the SUNIL Project and highlighted the potential benefits for bamboo cultivators. Er. Bhowmik also stresses the importance of bamboo treatment. He encouraged participants to maintain regular communication with the SUNIL project office at NBIRT for future assistance.
A key technical session was conducted by Guest Lecturer Atanu Saha, Deputy Conservator of Forest, Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education [ICFRE] – Livelihood Extension Centre, Gandhigram, Agartala. His session focused on value addition in bamboo technology and effective marketing strategies and included a live demonstration to provide practical insights. He also make the participants familiarized with various species of bamboos available in Tripura and their uses. The session was well received by the participants.
The workshop witnessed active participation from around 30 bamboo cultivators under Sekerkote & Bikramnagar gram panchayat area along with stakeholders and sectoral beneficiary. Interactive discussions enabled participants to gain knowledge on improved techniques, market linkages and livelihood enhancement opportunities.
The SUNIL team members expressed gratitude for the collective cooperation that led to the workshop’s success. The said workshop concluded with vote of thanks.
