Bamboo is one of the most commonly used construction
materials in Nepal, found in everything from buildings and bridges to baskets
and beds. Now, it’s also being used for more artistic and decorative purposes,
with craftsmen and women producing a range of bamboo homewares and gifts.
Bamboo grows prolifically across eastern, central and
western Nepal. While the larger varieties, which are used mainly for
construction, are found in the plains and hill regions, the small-statured
bamboos, which are used for weaving and finer handicrafts, grow higher in the
mountains. The production of bamboo handicrafts is therefore an important
industry in the more remote, hilly regions and provides good income and
employment opportunities for landless and marginalised people.
MEDEP has been working to support bamboo handicraft
enterprises in Kabhrepalanchowk, Nuwakot, Baitadi, Sindhulpachowk and Terathum
districts by providing entrepreneurship and skills training and building market
linkages with urban retailers. MEDEP also promotes a community forest approach
to bamboo production to protect the sustainability of the natural resource and
is currently seeking forestry certification for entrepreneurs’ products.
A variety of bamboo products are available in both wholesale
and retail quantities from Saugaat Griha, the sales outlet of micro, cottage
and small entrepreneurs’ products at Tripureshowar, Kathmandu.
For more details please contact:
National Micro Entrepreneurs Groups Association
Saugaat Griha
Tripureshowar (next to Department of Industry)
Tel: +977 (0) 16215404
Email: nmega.nepal@gmail.com