Agriculture Allied Activities
Kouna (Water Reed)
Kouna (Water reed) is a class of reed firm – stemmed water or marsh plant especially of genus – Phragmites. It is grown in the State of Manipur without discovering its full potential in local wastelands, ponds, and community pits canals, along the river and lake beaches of Manipur Valley where paddy cultivation is not suited at all. Recently, the people of Manipur have discovered the potentialities of these unique and hidden value of the plant. This eco-friendly plant/species distinctively grown in Manipur is locally named Kouna. It is one of the best biodegradable and environment friendly plants which has been used only for the purpose of mat-making till recent past. Today, WIGC has explored the potential of the plant with a great number of varied products.
Economic Activity
The Kouna, (Scirpus lacustris.Linn) is a class of matting reed, a gregarious weed belonging to the cyperaceous. From time immemorial, these stalks, locally call Kouna, after drying have been being used in making mats/mattresses by the people living mostly in the valley areas of Manipur State. The Kouna craft has now been taken up as a giant economic activity by artisans/entrepreneurs in some areas in the State because of high market demands. The plants are planted especially for economic utilization in the marshy paddy fields, canals, along the submerged river and lake shores.
Our intervention
Woman’s Income Generation Centre (WIGC), Thoubal, Manipur has taken up the Kouna Crafts at the state level so as to push up the Socio-economic profile of the poor section of peoples with the promotion of handloom and handicrafts of Manipur.
Marketing
Now a days, Kouna craft becomes one of the flourishing industries among other Handicrafts in the State due to having potentials in source of raw-materials and markets. Kouna products have not only market demands but also demands from outside the State including both the country and the foreign countries. These products are exported outside the State like Goa, Delhi and Mumbai and outside the countries like U.K, Spain, Denmark, Netherland, Germany, France, UAE and Switzerland etc. by treads/exporters/ NGOs. The surging demands for Kouna products suppress the current production in the state.
Promotion of Kouna Craft
In the line of promotion of handloom and handicraft of Manipur and, moreover in the rediscovering of Kouna plants, the Woman Income Generation Centre (WIGC), Thoubal, Manipur has taken up Kouna Craft with more than 150 plus production verities through STEP Project under Ministry of Woman and Child Development, Govt. of India with a mission towards poverty alleviation and uplift the socio-economic condition of the poor particularly the rural artisans. The Woman Income Generation Centre (WIGC), Thoubal Manipur has acquired enough experience through the successful implementation of STEP Project and learnt that the products of Kouna handicraft under this Project are the only major source of income that makes economic upliftment and sustainability of rural and sub-urban woman.