Bihar: Local industries gear up to explore global market

PATNA: With the Centre announcing Rs20 lakh crore economic package under the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan and Union finance minister announcing makhana cluster in Bihar on Friday, industrial units in state are gearing up to grab the opportunity to survive and thrive amid global crisis owing to Covid-19 pandemic. The industries are also looking forward to utilise thousands of migrant workers returning home during the lockdown.Archi Rani & Faryal Rumi take a look into the business plans of state industries, which will try to get the maximum of PM’s “vocal for local” call:
Makhana industry: Deputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi said Bihar produces at least 80% of the makhana (fox nuts) in the world. Satyajit Singh, a leading makhana exporter in Bihar, said CM Nitish Kumar and PM Narendra Modi identified makhana as a global health food in 2005 and 2019 respectively. “Now that the FM has announced its promotion from Bihar on the global level, we are looking forward to the state government for the crop’s promotion,” he said.
Cottage industry: Bihar Mahila Udyog Sangh president Usha Jha said local entrepreneurs were being encouraged to prepare edible items like pickle, papad, sattu, atta (flour), spices and even herbal products made of tulsi, neem and haldi. “People don’t go for local items mainly because of its packaging. We have now trained around 200 families in packaging of food items,” she said. Manju Devi and Neelam Singh, who prepare papad with their brand names, have huge orders to prepare the item for marketing. Sanoj Kumar and his family were busy making herbal products. “We are preparing soaps, handwash, derma cream and shampoo by using neem, tulsi and haldi,” he said.
Handicraft & handloom: Upendra Maharathi Shilp Anusansadhan Sansthan (UMSAS) director Ashok Kumar said around 400 artists registered with the association make Madhubani painting, tikuli art, paper-mache, block printing, appliqué work and jewellery on consignment basis. “They work on getting 50% advance for the consignment. All our artisans are working hard for living,” he said. Pramod Kumar, minister of art, culture and youth affairs, said the state government will give a platform to handicraft artists to sell their products. “In Madhubani, we are training 100 artists in different art works,” he said.
Hygiene products: With the rising demand of self-hygiene products, several industrial units are planning to manufacture masks, gloves, PPE kits, handwash and sanitizers. While some of them have already set up manufacturing units, others are training their workers to start production. Devesh Kumar, manager (non-farm and micro enterprise), JEEVIKA, said JEEVIKA didis had a business of over 27 lakh masks. “We have decided to extend it from 20 to all the 38 districts in Bihar. Besides, the didis are being trained to make medicated masks and alcohol-based sanitizers,” he said.
Cotton gamcha (towel): Jeet Lal Prasad, owner of a Gaya firm that produces gamcha, said the product’s demand has increased after the government identified it as an alternative for face masks. “We recently delivered the product to several other states. We are also hopeful of extending the business globally in the near future,” he said.
Mushroom cultivation: Rahul Ranjan, who has a farm of oyster mushrooms in Madhubani, is planning to extend his business. “The current situation has increased the demand of mushrooms. In fact, I have been receiving at least two-three calls per day from people who wish to start mushroom cultivation,” he said.
Honey business: Bihar is second in honey production and first in its productivity. There are 9,000 bee farmers in the state. With the provision of Rs500 crore for bee farming announced by the Centre, the farmers dealing in this produce in Samastipur, Muzaffarpur and other districts will be benefited, says deputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi. State agriculture minister Prem Kumar also said, “The state government will promote the farmers for honey cultivation.” Anuj Kumar from Vaishali said, “We are now changing the packaging of honey boxes to make it more enticing. Earlier, we used to import boxes from Kolkata. Now, we are making at local level.”
Floriculture: With temples closed owing to the lockdown, the flower business in the state has suffered huge losses. Now, the flower producers are hopeful of getting some support from the Centre’s package. Ved Prakash, a nursery owner in Rajendra Nagar, said: “I have planned a few things like starting online business and increase the market,” he said. Agriculture, animal & fisheries resources minister Prem Kumar held videoconferencing on Saturday to discuss the losses the floriculture sector has suffered due to the lockdown.
Tea estate: Manish Daftari, director of a tea estate in Kishanganj, said tea manufacturers in the district are working on export quality production in order to increase its demand. “With the government’s initiatives, we are also looking forward to the export market. Besides, we are planning to start a green tea factory, which will provide employment opportunities to local workers,” he said.