§1What this business is

Bamboo is split, shaped and joined with saws, knives, splitters, drills and a blow lamp into baskets, trays, decorative pieces and household items. It needs very little money and uses traditional artisan skills. Bamboo is plentiful in hill and north-eastern states.

Capacity: Production value ₹4.04 L a year; projected sales ₹5.00 L at full capacity.

§2Is it right for you?

Who it is for

Artisans and self-help groups in bamboo-growing areas.

Who it is not for

Someone looking for a large-scale or high-income business.

Advantages

  • Very low investment (₹1.95 L)
  • Uses local bamboo and traditional skills
  • Eco-friendly products with growing appeal
  • Can sell at fairs, tourist spots and online

Drawbacks

  • Small income — mainly a self-employment unit
  • Handwork limits output
  • Untreated bamboo can crack or get insects
  • Needs design skill to sell beyond the local market

Skills you need

  • Bamboo splitting and weaving
  • Design and finishing
  • Treating bamboo against insects
  • Selling at fairs and online

Why difficulty 1/5: Tiny investment and hand tools; the skill is traditional craft work.

§3Market

Who buys

  • Households buying utility and decorative items
  • Tourists and gift buyers
  • Handicraft shops

How it sells

  • Craft fairs and exhibitions
  • Handicraft emporiums and shops
  • Online marketplaces

Good to know

  • The KVIC profile says bamboo utility and fancy articles are used in homes in India and abroad.

§4Raw material & machinery

ItemQtyCost
Hand tools: hacksaw, knives, bamboo splitter, hammer, hand drill with bits, scale, fixtures, blow lamp, tin cutter, fret saw1 set₹15,000

From: KVIC Project Profile — Bamboo Article Manufacturing Unit (PMEGP)

  • Bambooplentiful in hill and border areas and the north-eastern states; raw material ₹1,70,000 a year
  • Labels and packing material₹2,000 a year

From: KVIC Project Profile — Bamboo Article Manufacturing Unit (PMEGP)

Suppliers in Building Business Bazaar

Anjeneya Bamboo Cluster · East Singhbum →Bamboo & Cane Craft Cluster · Mokokchung →Bamboo And Pottery Mini Cluster · Hoshangabad →Bamboo Based Cluster · Banswara →Bamboo Based Indigenous Toys Cluster · Balaghat →Bamboo Cluster · Betul →Bamboo Craft And Bamboo Toys Cluster · Ratlam →Bamboo Craft Cluster · West Singhbhum →Bamboo Craft Cluster · Harda →Bamboo Craft Cluster Amravati · Amravati →Bamboo Craft Cluster Bilaspur · Bilaspur →Bamboo Craft Cluster Chhindwara · Chhindwara →

In our raw material database

Bamboo (culms and splits) →

§5Licences & registration

  1. Udyam registration
  2. GST registration if turnover crosses the limit
  3. Artisan identity card from the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts) — useful for fairs and schemes
  4. Forest transit permit for bamboo where the state still requires it

We can do this registration for you

§6Schemes & subsidies

PMEGP (the KVIC profile was prepared for it), MUDRA Shishu loans, and CM-YUVA in UP for projects up to ₹5 lakh.

§7Money

How the investment is worked out: Building shed (500 sq ft) ₹1.00 L + hand tools ₹15,000 + working capital ₹80,000 = ₹1.95 L.

Working capital: Working capital ₹80,000; raw material ₹1.70 L a year.

Year not printed on the KVIC profile — check current machinery prices.

How to prepare a loan file

§8Export potential

Export council / board: EPCH (Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts)

  • The project report prints no HS code; look up the 8-digit ITC(HS) line on the DGFT website or with a customs broker before exporting.
  • You need an Import Export Code (IEC) from DGFT before the first shipment.

§9Risks — where people fail

  • Insect damage to bamboo
  • Low prices from middlemen
  • Seasonal sales at fairs
  • Cheap plastic substitutes

§1030 / 60 / 90-day plan

A general plan that applies to any business. A plan for this business will be added after research.

  1. Days 1–30: Visit a working bamboo articles and handicrafts unit, ask 10 buyers about price and quantity, and get quotations from 3 suppliers.
  2. Days 31–60: Udyam and the licences you need (Udyam registration, GST registration if turnover crosses the limit), a project report (DPR), and the scheme or loan file.
  3. Days 61–90: Space and machines, trial production, and first deliveries to 10 customers.

§11Who to connect with

Not verified yet

Associations, clusters and training institutes — the directory is being built. Connect

§12Watch

There is no episode on this business yet. Shows are coming soon on the Podcast page.

Want to start Bamboo Articles and Handicrafts?

DPR, loan file or registration — ask us on WhatsApp.

Get a DPR / loan file made

Sources

  1. KVIC Project Profile — Bamboo Article Manufacturing Unit (PMEGP)

Data review: 6 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Report it. For information only — not legal or financial advice.