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Raw material |
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Argalee (edgeworthia gardneri) is an
abundantly occurring shrub between 1500 mtrs to 2200
mtrs in the Sikkim Himalayas. The plant does not
have major usage in the daily chores of the village
society and is used mainly for making ropes. However
the mulch of the leaves from Argalee in the cardamom
plantations is considered good for cardamom. The
shrub is fast growing and can be easily propagated.
Environmentally sustainable means are being used in
the harvesting of the plant.
Paper is made from the bark of the Argalee stem. The
bark is cleaned at the nodes and the outer skin is
peeled. The bark strips are sun dried and ready for
supply to the processing unit.
Manufacturing process
Dried Argalee barks are boiled in a digester
Boiled soft barks are washed clean in a vat.
Barks are fed in a beating machine and pulped
The pulp is mixed with water to make a broth in
the lifting vat.
Pulp is lifted in a bamboo sieve and water
strained.
The soggy paper is piled and pressed to squeeze
out most of the water.
The paper is then dried in the sun or on ovens.
The papers are fed in calendaring machine to give
a smooth finish
Features of Argali Paper
Produced from fast growing shrub abundantly
available in Sikkim
Resistant to insects
Lightweight
Produced from fresh raw material
Village community directly benefiting from sales
Market Profile
State government land records, stationery etc.
Tourists - gift items etc.
Local market in and around Sikkim-letter pads,
cards, visiting cards, gift items, packaging for
tea, cardamom etc.
Handicraft emporia in Metros and abroad-gift
products, paper.
Religious institutions / bodies monasteries,
scriptures etc. |
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Introduction
Paper has traditionally been made in Sikkim from the bark of
the Argali (edgeworthia gardneri) plant. The requirements of
the monastery for scriptures and the administration for land
records & other important documents, were met by this handmade
paper.
Of late there is an increasing demand for good quality
handmade paper in India as well as abroad. But few units have
been setup in Sikkim to manufacture and market this type of
paper commercially though Argali grows wildly in Sikkim.
Borong-Polok Handmade Paper Unit
A community based unit to process and manufacture paper from
Argali in Polok, South Sikkim, has been promoted by Sikkim
Development Foundation (SF) with active involvement of the
local community. The unit has been setup with equity
participation from the local community (more than 50
households) SF has also participated as an equity holder with
the objective to get the project off the ground and to avoid
unnecessary delays in securing loans from banks and financial
institutions. SF will disinvest its shareholding after the
unit has gained firm grounds.
This unit is a pilot project and its success could be
replicated in other areas in Sikkim where this plant grows
abundantly. A well planned and managed paper making unit would
have long reaching benefits to the local community in these
rural areas.
Project Objectives
To setup a self sustaining and economically feasible unit
which will generate employment in the unit and supplement
income for the local community through supply of Argalee
barks.
To encourage setting up of ancillary units producing hand
made products by individuals, NGOs, CBOs and SHGs.
To use local resources in a sustainable manner.
To initiate local enterprise to setup other local resource
based units.
To foster community based development process.
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