Industree Foundation with the support from United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has initiated the Producer-Owned Women Enterprises (POWER) project which focuses on increasing economic opportunities for women through sustainable use of natural resources. The project will empower women to become micro-entrepreneurs who collectively will own and operate their producer companies along selected value chains.
The bamboo value chain initiative under POWER us being implemented in Karnataka and supported by the Karnataka chapter of the National Bamboo Mission and the Forest Department, Govt. of Karnataka. Thus far, Industree has mobilized and trained 70 Soliga tribal women from MM Hills region of Chamarajanagar district on bamboo basket making.
The Soliga tribal community have been traditionally involved in bamboo craft works over generations but lack the skill sets suited for a global market. And therefore, Industree, trough POWER project addresses this through the implementation of skill training programs with market-led design intervention and leadership skills. These interventions will enable producer groups to cater to the demand of global and domestic markets. Skill trainings were imparted by experts specialized in the bamboo-based crafts from Tripura.
The ongoing project in the bamboo natural fiber value chain in Karnataka focus on creating economic opportunities for rural and tribal women in the Southern part of Karnataka by establishing professionally handheld producer-owned bamboo natural fiber-based enterprises supplying to national and global buyers
