Khotang, 16 Falgun: The first National Bamboo Conference has officially begun in Diktel Bazaar. The conference, which was inaugurated at the Khotang Multi-Purpose Covered Hall, has various stalls set up at the nearby Maatikorey playground.
Attendees can explore bamboo gates, event venues, household items, and decorative pieces made from bamboo. A total of 51 stalls have been set up, showcasing works of bamboo entrepreneurs from local to international levels, locally produced agricultural products, and a variety of food dishes.
Tirtharaj Bhattarai, the mayor of Diktel Rupakot Majhuwagadhi Municipality and the main organizer of the event, announced that they have also made arrangements for entertainment, including Lingeping and Roteping.
The inauguration of the bamboo conference, hosted by Minister for Forest and Environment Ain Bahadur Shahi, was attended by federal parliamentarians, provincial ministers and parliamentarians, governors, heads of national and international organizations, as well as heads of all ten local levels in the district and other local leaders from outside the district.
Over 300 guests from outside the district are attending the bamboo conference. Mayor Bhattarai also shared that 23 working papers will be presented by experts throughout the event.
The conference is being organized by the Forest and Training Center Babarmahal, Ministry of Forest and Environment Koshi Province, and Green Bamboo Creation Lalitpur, with the slogan, “Where there is bamboo, there is life; where there is life, there is bamboo.”
The primary objective is to promote bamboo and explore ways to generate income from its cultivation.
The municipality has allocated a budget of Rs 500,000 for the event, with an estimated total cost of Rs 4.7 million. According to Deputy Mayor Bishan Rai, the conference is expected to be observed by 100 government and non-government organizations, 100 forest user groups, 50 representatives from universities and research centers, and thousands of students.
On this occasion, bamboo chairs will be presented to high-ranking officials, aiming to demonstrate the practical use of bamboo and encourage the government to implement policies that support the use of local materials.
In Diktel Rupakot Majhuwagadhi Municipality, 13 types of bamboo can be found, including Dhungro, Bhalu, Choya, Ban, Karauti, Malingo, Singano, Niganlo, and Muktiyali.
The excitement among local bamboo entrepreneurs and businesses has increased after the successful launch of the first National Bamboo Conference, which has been jointly organized by all three levels of government in collaboration with various organizations working on bamboo initiatives.
The municipality has been supporting local residents and entrepreneurs by providing training and materials for the bamboo industry. Koseli Ghar, located in the shopping complex of Diktel, has been purchasing and selling various bamboo household items made by local entrepreneurs.
