3 weeks ago
AP rolls out Craft Wood Banks to power heritage crafts
Have you ever seen beautiful wooden toys or musical instruments?
In a place called Andhra Pradesh in India, the government is helping craft makers who work with wood.
Craft makers are people who make things by hand, like toys, veenas and other art pieces.
The government started a special program called 'Wood Banks' to keep good wood ready for these makers.
Wood banks are like libraries, but instead of books, they store and share wood.
The program is starting in six craft towns, including Kondapalli and Etikoppaka.
A big central wood bank is also being set up near the city of Rajamahendravaram.
Before, craft makers had trouble finding wood and paid too much because of middlemen.
Now, with wood banks, they can get quality wood at lower prices.
This way, the old craft traditions can continue for many more years.
The Andhra Pradesh forest department is setting up a network of Craft Wood Banks to ensure a steady supply of quality timber for traditional artisans while promoting sustainable forest management.
The first phase covers six craft clusters: Kondapalli, Etikoppaka, Settigunta, Madhavamala, Udayagiri and Bobbili.
A central wood bank near the Dowleswaram sawmill in Rajamahendravaram will store bamboo, rosewood and teak to support all cluster-level units.
Facilities are being readied, with Settigunta holding 50 CMT of teak and 150 CMT of non-teak timber, and Etikoppaka stocking 1.5 CMT of Ankudu wood for lacquer artisans.
Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan said the initiative aims to revive heritage crafts, reduce production costs and eliminate middlemen, with affordable timber supply and cluster-wise mapping directed.
- Who
- Andhra Pradesh Forest Department, acting on directions from Deputy Chief Minister and forest and environment minister Pawan Kalyan, with PCCF P V Chalapathi Rao tasked to adopt a uniform model.
- What
- Rolling out a network of Craft Wood Banks to ensure a steady supply of quality timber for traditional artisans while promoting sustainable forest management.
- Where
- Six craft clusters across Andhra Pradesh — Kondapalli, Etikoppaka, Settigunta, Madhavamala, Udayagiri and Bobbili — plus a central wood bank near the Dowleswaram sawmill in Rajamahendravaram.
- When
- Ongoing; the first phase is currently underway, with storage facilities being identified and timber procurement begun (no specific date given in the article).
- Why
- To revive heritage crafts, reduce production costs for artisans and eliminate middlemen by supplying timber at affordable rates with transparency.
Key facts
- Initiative
- Craft Wood Banks network
- Implementing agency
- Andhra Pradesh Forest Department
- First phase craft clusters
- Kondapalli, Etikoppaka, Settigunta, Madhavamala, Udayagiri, Bobbili
- Central wood bank location
- Near Dowleswaram sawmill, Rajamahendravaram
- Settigunta timber stock
- 50 CMT teak + 150 CMT non-teak timber
- Etikoppaka timber stock
- 1.5 CMT Ankudu wood
- Planned additional facility
- Kapavaram, Eluru district (bullock-cart making)
- Key objectives
- Revive heritage crafts, reduce production costs, eliminate middlemen
Sources
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