For several decades, the people of Passaphu in Trashigang have been depending on weaving bamboo products to earn a living. But today, their main source of livelihood has come under threat. The Ringshu plants which are the main raw material are dying and the villagers do not know why.
Today, only a few villagers can be seen weaving Bangchus and other bamboo products. They are using the Ringshu plants collected from last season.
Villagers have not been able to harvest any Ringshu this year. All the plants in around eight acres of farmland have died after flowering earlier in the year. The plant is also available in the forests but this year, villagers say the plants in the jungles have died too.
This has left the community of Passaphu worried.
“The plants started to die from last year. But this year all the plants are completely dead. We could have acquired the raw materials from other places but currently, it isn’t possible due to the pandemic,” said Sangay Wangdi, a resident of Passaphu.
“Now, we don’t have any other source of income except from construction works. We planted Ringshu with support from the officials but that died too. I couldn’t make a single pair of Bangchung this time,” said Pema Tenzin, another resident of Passaphu.
According to the forestry officials, Ringshu is a monocarpic plant meaning it flowers once, sets seeds and then dies.
“The seeds will start to grow but it will take around eight to nine years to mature. Only then can we use them as raw materials,” said Wangda Passaphu Chiwog’s Tshogpa.
Meanwhile, the Kangpar gewog administration is encouraging farmers to grow the plant in abundance to avoid shortages in the future.
“The villagers planted Ringshu in only a small area. We have plans to discuss with forestry officials and let the villagers grow them on a larger scale,” said Kangpar Gup Sangay Wangdi.
The villagers earn around Nu 40,000 on average every year by selling bamboo products. But for now, it seems the villagers will have to find an alternative source of income before they can get back to their old bamboo weaving business.
Sonam Darjay, Trashigang
