Zhemgang, Bhutan, 31 May 2023 – Bamboo constitutes a significant portion of the total forest area in the region.
That is why SDF works with partners across the Member States through its project on promoting bamboo-based enterprises for income generation and employment opportunities.
On 31 May 2023, the SDF team met with the members of the Bamboo Community Facility Centre (CFC) in remote Bjoka gewog located in Bhutan’s Zhemgang District.
Zhemgang is at the heart of Bhutan’s bamboo weaving craft and tradition. In fact, people from Bjoka are known as the pioneers of craftsmanship in bamboo basketry and other bamboo products.
The community members oriented the team on the ongoing activities and the benefits reaped from the SDF-funded project, which has supported infrastructure, hands-on trainings and various equipment. The members also shared some of the major challenges and held discussions with the team on the way forward to address those challenges.
Community members in Bjoka learn how to make bamboo products such as containers by age 5-6. They said that the trainings and equipment through the SDF project has helped them increase the production, reduce processing time and has overall helped increase the value and prices of their bamboo products by many folds.
In Bhutan, the SDF project – Promoting Integrated Bamboo-Based Enterprise Development among SAARC Countries – is implemented by the Tarayana Foundation.
