My Ramie Project

Issue #10, 2023                                                                              ISSN: 2581- 9410 In late 2017 a friend took me along to Meghalaya where I met with a lot of interesting and passionate people, above all Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, who was in his final year of office at the time. Officials from the Government asked me if I had any ideas as to how Ramie, a free growing (probably wild) fibre found in Meghalaya used by tribal communities to produce artisanal fishing nets, could be used in a bigger way to provide for a livelihood for local farmers and also the State. “Bonjour India” a celebration of France in India and “Namaste France” a celebration of India in France were both coming up in 2018.  I proposed organizing a workshop to indicate maiden use of said fibre, not much used for garments in its pure form anywhere, rather a strong fibre used for mixing other fibres. The idea was accepted by both parties, the Institute of France in India as well as the Government of Meghalaya. The Ramie Project thus saw the Light of Day. Ramie grows more or less wildly in Meghalaya, ensuring up to six harvests a year for a lifespan of approximately 25 years. No addition of any chemical is necessary and the upbringing of the fibre thus leaves absolutely no trace on the environment. Due to the extremely high rainfall in Meghalaya rapid natural growth makes it a 100% natural, zero carbon imprint fibre, unfortunately a bit too scratchy to be worn as a garment and thus relatively undeveloped. Research has found that all trials un...