- KEFRI urges Kenyans to embrace bamboo farming
- Bamboo highlighted as an emerging income and enterprise opportunity
- Stakeholders call for stronger support for bamboo value addition
Kenyans have been challenged by stakeholders to embrace the planting of the bamboo tree owing to its economic, social and environmental benefits to the community and country.
Led by the Programme Director of the National Research Programme at the Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI), Nellie Oduor, they revealed bamboo has several uses across the world, with its potential going beyond environmental conservation.
Speaking at Meru University of Science and Technology during the Bamboo Expo and celebrations to mark World Bamboo Day, Oduor insisted the bamboo tree is a source of income and a potential enterprise opportunity for Kenyans.
“I urge Kenyans to embrace the planting of the bamboo tree owing to its economic, social and environmental benefits to the community and country. This is because the tree is a source of income and a potential enterprise opportunity for Kenyans. It has several uses across the world, with its potential going beyond environmental conservation,” said Oduor.
The stakeholders also called for stronger collaboration between researchers, farmers, government agencies and the private sector to promote bamboo cultivation, value addition and access to markets.
“With the appropriate management of the bamboo, market linkages and investment in value addition, the tree could contribute to household incomes while supporting environmental conservation and climate action.”
The event brought together researchers, environmentalists, farmers, innovators, government agencies and other stakeholders to showcase the environmental, economic and commercial potential of bamboo.
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The celebrations were meant to create greater awareness of the importance of bamboo.
“In some Asian countries, bamboo is widely used in construction, while different parts of the plant are also utilised for food, charcoal production and the manufacture of various products. KEFRI has been promoting bamboo cultivation in Kenya because of its potential to support environmental conservation while creating economic opportunities for farmers and communities,” said Oduor.
The Director said bamboo can be adopted for construction and other commercial purposes in Kenya, adding that increased production and value addition could help create employment and boost household incomes.
She says the Bamboo Expo has provided an important platform for members of the public to learn more about the plant and see how bamboo can be processed and transformed into different products.
The event has also provided an opportunity for innovators and entrepreneurs to showcase bamboo-based products and technologies, demonstrating the potential of the plant in supporting sustainable enterprises.
Oduor says bamboo is also part of the government’s tree-growing agenda, which seeks to increase the country’s forest cover and enhance environmental conservation.
She says increased bamboo production could create opportunities for farmers through value addition, processing and development of bamboo-based enterprises.
However, Oduor says one of the major challenges facing KEFRI is the limited dissemination of information on the benefits and potential of bamboo to communities across the country.
She says there is a need for increased public awareness to help farmers understand the economic value of bamboo and encourage them to incorporate it into their tree-growing activities.
The stakeholders are now calling for stronger collaboration between researchers, farmers, government agencies and the private sector to promote bamboo cultivation, value addition and access to markets.
They said that with appropriate management, market linkages and investment in value addition, bamboo could contribute to household incomes while supporting environmental conservation and climate action.
Stakeholders are now urging Kenyans to change their perception of bamboo and view it not only as a plant for conservation, but also as a resource capable of supporting livelihoods, innovation and sustainable economic development.
During the event, the Bamboo Expo featured various bamboo products, innovations and technologies, with stakeholders expressing optimism that the knowledge and awareness generated during the event will encourage more Kenyans to embrace the growing of bamboo.
By John Majau
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