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PROSPECTIVE AND VIABLE INDUSTRIAL UNITS OF MANIPUR LARGE AND MEDIUM INDUSTRIES (large scale) The state has vast resources of bamboo available in the west and south districts of Manipur mainly in the Barak Drainage area spreading about 1500 sq kms of Bamboo forests. Based on the availability of vast bamboo resources, a unit for pulp and paper mill of capacity of 200 tons a day is proposed to be established at Chandighat in Jiribam sub-division. Another insulated paper mill of 25 tons per day capacity, based on the pine wood trees grown in the three districts of Manipur North, East and Tengnoupal district, is proposed to be set up at Karong of Manipur North district. The objective of the mills is to produce paper for local consumption, to export something outside, and to give employment to the large section of the unemployed youths of the state. Jiribam is covered by vast bamboo forest comprising an area of about 387 sq. km. In the entire state, the bamboo forests cover an area of 3268 sq. km. and the annual yield of bamboo is estimated at 14.40 lakh tons. In Manipur, there are many species of bamboo, viz., Longa, Utang, Khokwa, Saneibi, Maribob, Laiwa, Liwa, Watangkhoi, Nat, Unap, Vee, Wamu, Tenwa, Wak, Oonal, Mobiwa etc. Bamboo can grow easily in the valley areas as well as on the hill sloes of the state. Thus, planting the plenty of bamboo can check the problem of soil erosion in the hill areas of the state. Out of these species of bamboo, the Muli bamboo (Melacanna Bambusoides) is to make excellent paper. Thus establishing one bamboo-based (large-scale) industry in the state can also generate a great employment opportunity. It may have a long life span without any losses. In case of pine based paper mill, the life span will be very short and it will benefit only to a small section of people. Bamboo has a number of uses and it is grown in every district of Manipur. Some variety of bamboo can be harvested in every year. The quick grown varieties or early varieties of bamboo can be planted on the barren lands found both in hills and valley areas. Bamboo is very important in the economic life of the state. It is equipped to replace three scare resources viz. wood, metal, and oil. It is also a source of food, (viz. bamboo soothe and its leaves) both for man and animal. The main building materials, as well as agricultural and industrial materials are derived from Bamboo. The plant also slows the process of solid erosion. It maintains the ecological balance of the region too. Recently, a process has been discovered for distilling liquid diesel fuel from bamboo. It is also true that the paper is made not only from bamboo but it can also be made from water hyacinth (kabokung), paddy’s straw, reeds, soft woods etc. which are found abundantly in the state. Moreover, the water of Loktak can be maintained in good condition by using its water hyacinth for paper production instead of spreading of Neochetina (an insect), to destroy plenty resources of water hyacinth. SPINNING MILL (medium sized) Traditionally, Manipur is very famous for her spinning and weaving culture, especially silk and cotton. Formerly every house of Manipur was related with cotton as well as silk culture. Moreover, on hill slopes of the state, there are natural facilities for the cultivation of cotton and oak tasar. At present, more or less every house of Manipur is having one loom i.e. loin loom or fly shuttle loom. Majority of the looms is loin looms. Thus, strengthening the existing spinning mill can generate more employment opportunities. The state govt. has already established one training cum production unit of the cotton-spinning mill of 25,250 spindles at Loitang Khunou. This mill would fulfill the needs of about 25% of the 3 lakhs looms in Manipur and provide employment to about 2 lakhs people for cultivation of cotton in different places of the state. The objective of the establishment of this mill was to provide yarn locally and make it available to the local weavers at a cheaper rate and also to give training facilities to them in weaving. TEA INDUSTRY (Medium Sized) Formerly tea was not so popular among the local inhabitants, but it was grown in some pockets of the state (viz. Chanung area etc.). The climate and soil of the state are suitable to grow more tea on the hill sloes. Tea though is used as the Traditional Maiba (Physician) of Meitei used a common beverage as a medicinal herb. Tea and rubber were indigenous plants of the state. Tea was planted in an area of about 425 hectares at Tea Estate, Jiribam. Thousands of tea plants were planted there in the initial stage. There is a good hope for tea industry in the state. Not only the areas of Jiribam, but also the hill slopes of the state in other parts are suited for tea plantation. Since, tea is the most important of the beverage crops of the world and a portion of the world population drinks tea more than coffee or cocoa, Manipur has a better prospect for exporting tea if this industry is geared up. Manipur being a part of the monsoon region of Asia, is also having abundant cheap unskilled laborers, suited amount of rainfall, varying from about 600 to 750 F, with very little difference between winter and summer temperatures, specially in its hilly areas where tea plantation is being made. So, the prospect of tea industry in the state is very bright. SMALL SCALE AND COTTAGE INDUSTRIES Sericulture: Since time immemorial, sericulture industry has been in practice in Manipur exploiting its own respective indigenous flora and fauna in a traditional way. Earlier, only three branches of sericulture, viz. Mulberry, Muga and Eri were developed in some traditional pockets of the state, namely, Khurkhul, Leimaram, Phayeng and Thongjao etc. in a limited way. The sericulture industry was started along with other state, laying greater emphasis on the development of sericulture for the quick improvement of the socio-economic conditions of the state through industrialization. The state has got a tremendous potential for development of tasar culture as the oak shrubs (viz. ‘Uyung’ or ‘Oak Tasar’ and ‘Sahi-kuhi’ or Castanopsis indica) naturally grown in abundance in the foothills of the central region. Different kinds of development and augmentation programs were taken up from time to time. For giving a ready market for the cocoons so produced by the village silkworm rearers, cocoons are purchased every year and convert it into raw silk. There are four types of silkworms, which can be reared inside (internal) and outside (external) the rearing shed. They are: Outside the rearing shed: Tasar silkworm or Tasar leima (Uyung and Sahi kuhi/ Oak Tasar & (external) Castanopsis Indica) Muga silkworm or Muga leima (Nongnang kori and Tumitla/Cinnamomum Ceceodephne) Inside the rearing shed: Eri silkworm or eri leima (kege/castor) (Internal) Mulberry silkworm or Kabrang Leima-Til (Kabrang Chak/Mulberry) This silk worm rearing may benefit about 3,500 families in Manipur. In the coming 3 to 4 years about 50% of the total population of Manipur may get self-employment under silkworm rearing schemes. In the year mulberry trees planted 1987, about 1000 hectares of land. For this purpose, about 50 lakhs of saplings (mulberry) were prepared and made for plantation. Another 40,000 hectares of land has been brought under systematic plantation of oak trees for rearing to oak tasar worms. In the year 1987, about one and half crores were produced by 500. But the targeted amount during the year 1987, was about 60 lakhs only. The rearing of silkworm (Tasar-Oak) was first established in 1973-74 (by India Govt.’s policy and program), Manipur is becoming a pioneer and best state of silk culture. Sericulture Dept. of Manipur has its own sericulture research wing, which was established in the year 1984. During the year 1986-87, 19 science graduates, 43 matriculates and 35 under matriculates, altogether 37 trainees were sent sericulture training at Berhampore, Mysore and Kwakta (Manipur) for specialization in Mulberry Agronomy. Manipur has about 2 lakhs acres of Uyung (Oak Tasar, Botanically grouped under Quercusgenera) plants, silkworm of tasar oak has 3 types and they are: Uni - voltin (Laid eggs once) Bi -voltin (which laid eggs twice, and Multi -voltin (which laid eggs more than twice) The quality of tasar silk of Manipur is better in luster compared to tasar silk produced in other traditional states in India It is as good as that of tasar yarn of China which is the premier tasar silk producing country in the world. Thus, Manipur has the privilege of being the first state in India to produce oak tasar of unique quality in the country. HANDLOOM: The handloom weaving specially done by the women folk is the traditional cottage industry of the state as a whole. This industry offers employment to the womenfolk because they have attained special skills in this trade over the years. This inherent skill and human resource (women only) can be developed into a thriving industry, offering profitable and full employment to lakhs of women. Traditional skilled artisans specially in silk, spinning and weaving are found concentrated in Thangmeiband and Chingmeirong areas extending upto adjoining villages like Heingang, Ahallup and Khabam villages. Skilled weavers specialized in weaving of cloth like delicate Lamthang khullak, Engineer Phee, Khudei Macha, Kokyet macha etc. are found concentrated in Wangkhei area near Ningthempukhri Mapal and some parts of Singjamei Chingamakha. Skilled loin-loom weavers producing items like Khwang phanek, Ngabong etc. are found in the areas of Imphal-East block and other parts of the state. The handloom & handicrafts industries in the state are progressing and having a bright future. FrontPage Manipur Profiles Features Potpourri Opinions Editorials Books Photos Links Archives Contact Policy/Disclaimer |
