Odisha launches dedicated website for online sale of bamboo products

Bhubaneswar, Jan 8 : The Odisha Government has launched a dedicated website — www.odishabamboohaat.com — to facilitate the online sale of bamboo products, a move aimed at expanding market access for local artisans and strengthening rural livelihoods.

Announcing the initiative while inaugurating the National Bamboo Conclave–2026 here on Friday, State Forest Minister Ganesh Ram Singkhuntia said bamboo is an inseparable part of rural life in Odisha and holds immense potential to revitalise the rural economy. He noted that with structured market access and innovation, bamboo-based products could emerge as a sustainable source of income and become a key pillar of the State’s green economy.

The one-day conclave, organised by the One Future Foundation, witnessed participation from over 200 stakeholders, including policymakers, industry leaders, designers, and sustainability experts. Discussions centred on bamboo’s role as a renewable resource, its commercial viability, and its capacity to drive inclusive rural growth.

Addressing the gathering, the Minister said the conclave was more than a formal event, describing it as a collective effort to give a strong direction to Odisha’s bamboo sector. He expressed confidence that knowledge-sharing and collaboration among stakeholders would help unlock new economic opportunities and create sustainable livelihoods across rural areas.

The conclave’s key objectives included enhancing awareness about the diverse applications of bamboo in everyday life and its contribution to global sustainable development goals. Technical sessions covered government policy frameworks, engineered bamboo technologies, and strategies to strengthen the supply and value chains.

The event also served as a networking platform to foster partnerships among government agencies, industry players, and civil society organisations to build a resilient bamboo ecosystem in the State.

Among those present were Guru Prasad Mishra, Advisor to the One Future Foundation; Sarada Prasad Panda, Chief Coordinator of the conclave; and Dr Rebecca Reubens, World Bamboo Ambassador and sustainable design expert. Karthick V, Project Director of the Odisha Bamboo Development Agency, and Sudhakar Pahi of the Bharateeyam Trust, the co-organiser, were also in attendance.