Guwahati, Jan. 11: The National Bamboo Mission has recommended the development and promotion of bamboo handicrafts in the 12th Plan.

This was recommended in the two-day workshop on value addition to bamboo and marketing strategies for bamboo products here.

The workshop concluded today.

Officials said more importance would be given to both bamboo plantations and self-promotion of bamboo handicrafts in the Northeast.

The bamboo bazaar and the retail outlet will be linked with the handicraft production centres for supply of utility handicraft, including bamboo jewellery.

Managing director of North Eastern Handicrafts and Handlooms Development Corporation Jagdish Borah today said support would be given to the bamboo development agency in Assam to market the bamboo handicrafts to their showrooms in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Calcutta.

The workshop was inaugurated by state forest minister Rakibul Hussain yesterday.

The minister announced the setting up of two bamboo seasoning and treatment plants at Makum in Tinsukia and in Silchar.

Deputy director-general of National Bamboo Mission, Kameshwar Ojah, also welcomed the recommendation and said the matter would be taken up at the appropriate level.

“We will take up this matter and see to it that appropriate steps are being implemented,” he said.

India’s 64 per cent and the world’s 20 per cent growing stock of bamboo is found in the Northeast, which annually harvests bamboo worth of Rs 500 billion.