AGARTALA: To boost people's immunity and livelihood as well, Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb has launched cookies and honey bottles made from bamboos.
Deb, who is also holding the Health, Industries and Commerce Departments, in a tweet said on Friday: "On the occasion of 'World Bamboo Day', launched bamboo cookies and bamboo-made honey bottle.
Bamboo cookies and honey bottle will now add another feather to our cap. It will generate livelihood opportunities for many and fulfil Prime Minister Narendra Modiji's vision of 'Atma Nirbhar Bharat'."
After launching the bamboo cookies and bamboo-made honey bottles developed by the Bamboo and Cane Development Institute (BCDI), he told the media that both the new products would boost people's immunity and livelihood as well.
BCDI's Tripura head Avinav Kant said that the cookies are made from the shoots of 'Muli Bamboo', available in abundance in Tripura and other north-eastern States.
The 'Muli Bamboo', with the scientific name Melocanna Baccifera, is rich with various vitamins and other healthy ingredients.
He said that as the nutritional value of 'Muli Bamboo' is very high, the cookies would be very healthy foodstuff in this COVID-19-induced situation.
"The market value and demand of these bamboo cookies and bamboo-made honey bottles would be very high in the Indian and international markets. This would also be very beneficial for the livelihood of a huge number of people," Avinav Kant told the media. He pointed out that as the Prime Minister has been highlighting 'Vocal for Local', the newly-developed bamboo products are very suitable for the mission and vision.
The official also said that the shoots of 'Muli Bamboo' are harvested from forest areas; and they are very natural and organic. The shoots are very tasty; and the local people especially the tribals prefer them and traditionally consume them in numerous ways, he added.
The BCDI was set up in 1974 in Agartala by Development Commissioner (Handicrafts). The prime objective was to develop proper techniques for treatment and preservation of cane and bamboo handicraft items by using suitable chemical and lacquer to protect them from insects, fungus; and to also disseminate these techniques through practical demonstrations. (IANS)
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