Woman reels yarn off lotus stalks

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Aug 31: In a first in Manipur, a young 27-year-old woman is trying her hands on making yarn from lotus stalks.
Tongbram Bijiyashanti of Thanga Tongbram, who grew up near the magnificent Loktak Lake, has always been fascinated by the beauty of the lotus flower which grows abundantly in the lake, a source of livelihood for the locals.
She did Bsc (Hons) Botany from GP Women's College and has keen interests in promoting agro-tourism.
She has established-Sanajing Sana Thambal, an enterprise which she hopes will give jobs to the local women and promote lotus yarn.
She is not only making yarns out of the lotus stalks but also producing finished clothes such as mufflers and neckties.
She first got the idea from an elder who encouraged her to try "making yarn from lotus stalks". She then started researching and eventually she was able to produce yarn out of the lotus stalks and make clothes.
"I asked elders for advice and researched on my own to reach here. Before this (making lotus yarn and clothes), I tried my hands on making lotus tea," said Bijiyashanti.
The tea is made from the lotus leaf.
It is a source of natural antioxidants. "To successfully produce the lotus tea, I have placed an order for some equipment from Kolkata. But, due to the lockdown now, the equipment has not yet arrived," she said.
Bijiyashanti said she is aiming to  develop a lotus farm and expand her enterprise.
"I have already started preparing nurseries for the farm and I'm waiting for the funds to be sanctioned under Manipur Start-up-Idea Stage," Bijiyashanti said adding the funds will be of immense help in maintaining the farm.
On availability of market for the lotus products, Bijiyashanti said  she has spoken to some successful entrepreneurs in the field. She said a piece of necktie made out of the lotus yarn costs about 100 dollar.
As the clothes made of lotus yarn have medicinal value, their demand is high in countries like France. There are markets in India and abroad, she said.