Bhagalpur, Nov. 11: Nabard organised a buyer-seller meet today to provide impetus to artisans’ efforts to reach out to markets and discuss issues related to quality during the fifth edition of Nabard Gramin Udyami Mela in the silk city.

Around 50 artisans from different districts of the state, Bengal and Jharkhand took part in the meet to forward their views on marketing, branding and quality control at Teachers’ Training College. The participants enquired about extraction of banana fibre and its utilisation.

Happy with the meet organised at the mela today, Ram Gopal Poddar, the president of Eastern Bihar Chamber of Commerce, requested Nabard to introduce directories with details of the items produced by the artisans and their contact numbers on the Nabard website. The edition of Nabard Gramin Udyami Mela 2011, which was inaugurated by Bhagalpur district magistrate Narmedeshwar Lal last evening, will continue till November 17. Participants have come from Vaishali, Arwal, Munger, Jamui, Purnea, Katihar, Begusarai, Gaya, Nawada in Bihar, Jamtara and Deoghar in Jharkhand and Birbhum in Bengal. Self-help group members, non-government organisations (NGOs), progressive farmers, local artisans and artists from Bhagalpur and Banka have also taken up stalls. Some of the products on display include Bhagalpur silk, khadi, sattu, decorative candles and vermicompost.

Mukutdhari Aggrawal, a member of Eastern Bihar Industries Association, said Nabard should pursue the demand for permanent haats. P.K. Pandey, the assistant general manager, Nabard, Bihar regional office, Patna, said the organisation would try to introduce haats in all districts with the state government’s support. He also extended his offer to support soft-skill training to the artisans for better packaging of products.

A free medical check-up camp and information kiosks have also been set up at the mela.