Potential Village Industries in Manipur
P Manichandra Singh
Small Industries Service Institute (SISI) carried out a survey for the purpose of identifying specific project ideas in the light of natural resources, demand condition, infrastructure and lastly institutional intervention in terms of finance, training and marketing.
The activities/projects identified as having potential include:
I. Mineral based Industry
Stone crushing: Stone chips are known as belly chelly. The crushed chips are used for construction of roads, bridges, housing, industrial buildings construction and other cement based products like RCC pipes, RCC poles, frames and beam etc. Crushed stone, fines and wastage are collected and this is used as sand for construction in the state.
The activity has following favorable features:
- 90% of the state is hilly region. So material for this industry is locally available and mineral deposits are available in plenty in Ukhrul, Chandel, Sekmai in Imphal and Bishnupur districts.
- This activity is extremely labor intensive with requirement of 18 personnel per unit as per project prepared.
- The industry has forward linkage with construction industry.
Sufficient demand will be generated for this product as construction activity is growing with increase in population and living standard. Construction activities contributed 2.593 lakhs in 1990-91 to state domestic product as compared to 1,717 lakhs in 1984-85. Upto 1994-95 no stone crushing activity was set up under KVI purview so there is ample scope for this activity for institutions.
II. Forest Based Industry
Handmade Paper. Hand made paper is produced by recycling the waste agro raw material. Agro fiber like jute, straw, and banana are used. The paper has aesthetic and elegant surface for writing & drawing. It has varied uses and many varieties are provided for artwork, greeting cards, deckle edge stationary, exclusive greetings, unique carry bags, file covers etc. In Manipur these is one individual unit catering to the demand at present. One project based on water hyacinth (i.e. aquatic plants) as raw material in not operational due to high transport cost and non-availability of raw material.
The scheme has following salient features:
- Banana fiber, agro waste, waste paper and cotton rags can be exploited for the suggested hand made paper unit.
- Direct labor generated from the unit will be 15
- KVIC has approved suppliers who will supply the machinery.
- Consultancy and training can be provided by the Kumarpara National Handmade Paper Institute, Sanganer to low cost project. Besides there are other institutes all over the country imparting training in hand made paper.
- The industry has diversified its products range with the growing demand for eco-friendly products both abroad and in domestic market. The sales in 1990-91 were Rs. 8,62.37 lacs. In Manipur sale rose from nil in 1990-91 to 0.75 lacs in 1994-95. There is considerable scope in increasing the production and sales of this product.
- In order to establish good handmade paper unit infrastructure facilities like soft water availability, three phase electric supply; road and workshop facilities are required. It is proposed for tiny paper unit in view of raw material availability, market potential and skill availability.
Exercise Books: Exercise books are essential items in present day education, office and commerce. Exercise books of different kinds are required in large numbers by schools, college, and technical institutes and other establishment and industrial organization. Similarly such items are required in large quantities by business houses, commerce establishments and industrial organizations.
The scheme has following salient features:
- Raw material is available from Guwahati based wholesale dealers.
- The proposed unit employs only about 12 people.
- It will further generate employment through binding, cutting, pasting activities.
The government is laying a great stress on child education and adult education. So a number of new schools, colleges and other centers are being established every year. Prospective demand is very high in Manipur and it is ideal activity for institutions.
III. Agro Based And Food Industry
Spice making: Spices play an important role in enhancing the flavor and taste of processes foods. These are used in the medicine because of their carminative stimulating digestive properties. Although spices are treated chiefly in an unprocessed form, a small yet significant quantity enters international trade as spice powder. The proposed project includes ground spices such as red chilly powder, turmeric powder, coriander powder, black-pepper powder, curry powder and mixed spices such as vegetable garam masala, chana masala etc.
The activity has following advantages:
- Manipur is a spice-growing region but the potential for growing spice has not been fully exploited. The total production of chilly, ginger, onion and turmeric was 41,200 MT and area cultivated was 7,453 hectares in 1995-96. Other spices also have scope for production due to the favorable climate.
- This is a labor-intensive item and each tiny unit can generate employment for 15 people.
- Industry has tremendous potential of backward linkage with spice growing and packing industry and can generate employment indirectly via these. As it is a mass consumption item used in culinary preparation and seasoning of food products its internal demand is growing. There are 3-4 tiny units engaged in spice making. Not a single unit is packing mixed or processed spices as these come from outside. So, there is scope for internal demand for these products.
Bee keeping cum Honey-processing: Honey has milk like nourishing value and it helps to build hemoglobin. It is used in tea, coffee, milk etc. to its delicious flavor. Honey is also used as medicine based in almost all homeopathic medicines. Locally too the consumption of honey is considered to be very beneficial.
The scheme has the following advantages:
- Availability of raw material sugar is not difficult. It comes mostly outside the state.
- The activity is labor intensive and will provide employment to about 6 persons directly.
- Indirect labor will be much higher. This is due to the backward linkages the industry will forge. It requires bee boxes, hand tools, and other simple implements, which can be manufactured locally. This in turn will provide employment to many others indirectly.
- KVIC along with KVIB conducts training program in bee keeping imparting skill in bee keeping.
- On the demand side the sales of bee honey is showing ever-increasing trends. As per the figures available the sale of honey rose from 1389.19 lacs to 3132.46 lacs in 1990-91. In Manipur the sales rose from 27.83 lacs in 1990-91 to 58.06 lacs in 1994-95. Clearly with increasing population and income demand will certainly increase manifold. The product can also be marketed outside the state by KVIC.
Squashes: During the last few decades the products like fruit juices, squashes cordials, crushes, syrups and ready to serve beverages have been introduced in the country on commercial scale. The rapid increase in the production of these products in the different parts of the country is a proof of the popularity of these products.
Following are the favorable features:
This industry has an important role in augmenting the growth of horticulture sector and generating employment opportunities on a decentralized basis in the fruit growing areas. The total quantity of pineapple, orange and lemon produced in 1996-97 was 6,000 MT. Additional supplies are readily available from neighboring districts. A tiny unit can employ 15 peoples as per project prepared and is ideal for both individuals associations.
The activity has backward linkages with fruit growing industry and packaging industry. With fast growing of the urban and the growing higher standards of people there is a good potential to develop this industry in the small-scale sector in Manipur State to meet the increasing market demand. There demand is locally in the brief summer months and KVIC can help market local brands in rest of the country through its distribution channels. There are very few institution involved in this activity. About 50 individuals are engaged in tiny and cottage fruit processing industry. Taking into account availability of raw materials and recovery rate it is viable proposition for institutions.
Rice Milling: Paddy processing industry is one of the largest industries in the country with the introduction of HYV in northern region first and eastern region later. There are still large numbers of units in the country using out dated technology. The Central Food Technological Research Institute, Mysore has developed a technology for processing of rice to secure an improved out-turn ratio from paddy. The said technique requires a licensed from the state government for setting up a modern mill.
The schemes has following advantages:
-Imphal is rice-growing area, the annual production of paddy; the state crop was 156.10 MT in 1993-94.
-Each unit requires about 8-10 persons.
-In Manipur not a single unit is engaged in organized Rice Milling. The existing units are tiny and decentralized. Therefore at least one or two modern rice milling may come up in Imphal area.
-With increasing production and population this activity has good scope.
Papad making: Papad forms a popular food item in Indian diet. It is essentially wafer thin product usually circular in shape, rolled from dough made out of pulse or fernaceous material with added salt and spices with papad making one might also go for Vadia making. The latter makes foods dishes delicious and tasty, specially curried vegetables. Leading manufacturers of papad in India are M/S Mahila Gruh Udyog, Bombay-brand "Lijjat". M/S Tasty Food Products, Rajkot- brand "Tasty", M/S Ganesh Gruh Udyog, Bombay-brand "Ganesh", M/S Gits Food Products, Pune-brand "Gits". Brands for Vadia are not standardized.
The scheme has following salient features:
-In Manipur papad and vadia locally known as "Bori" are popular vegetarian items, there are tiny units engaged in making bori, but not a single well organized engaged in.
-Papad making is available, however efforts are being made by the tiny/cottage industries.
-With the guidance of food technologist at SISI and other institutions, it is hoped that at least two to three units will be successful to put their papad in Imphal.
-Local demand will be sufficient for profitable running the venture.
IV. Carpentry and Blacksmith:
From wide ranging items, the project proposed the manufacturing of agricultural implements, hand tools, fabrication of grill, wood carving etc.
The activity has following salient feature in Imphal:
-Though only 0.8% area in under forest availability of raw materials for local needs is not a problem. There is large number of units set up in this area. In 1994-95, nearly 4,900 tiny carpentry and blacksmith units were registered with KVIB.
-Skilled personal is available and this activity is labor intensive. It is proposed that a single unit will employ 16 persons.
-The demand for agricultural implements, household, building and industrial equipment are increasing day by day due to mechanization of agricultural and rural industries.
-The demand for these products is increasing in direct proportion to growth in population and overall standard of living. With 36% of the population involved in agricultural, there is good for demand for agricultural implements. Therefore, despite the participation of large number of units in this activity there is scope for the above-mentioned items.
(Courtesy: The Imphal Free Press) |
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