Ethiopia has a potential bamboo forests on 1.47 million hectares of land, which makes it the leading country in Africa. Most of the farm is owned by the government. The country produces lowland and highland bamboos. Despite this huge potential wealth, the country earns little income from the sector due to several constraints, according to experts.
A study by International Network for Bamboo and Rattan (INBR) indicated that Ethiopia would earn as huge amount of income from bamboo export as the country is earning from coffee if utilized properly. The study puts countries like China, India, USA and other European countries are the leading countries in terms of exporting bamboo products.
This is primarily because of the effective bamboo production and processing there. Our country also needs to use this resource to generate the expected amount of income from the sector. Ato Ashebir Wondimu, Forest Development Expert, at Ministry of Agriculture told The Ethiopian Herald that the problems that are hindering the sector can be categorized in terms of production, processing, and marketing issues. If well maintained, bamboo can have multifaceted uses. Bamboo can be used to build houses, make toys, diapers, furniture, accessories, keyboards, papers, walls, curtains, mats, rags, etc. It can also be used for pharmaceutical purposes and serve as food in some countries.
According to Ashebir, the primary problem arises from the awareness gap about bamboo products. “Most people think that bamboo is a weak plant and its products do not last long. Due to this misunderstanding, the demand for bamboo products in our country is low,” he said. This low demand, in turn, is discouraging the bamboo farmers. They are using their bamboo farm land to produce another crop. This is a fundamental problem that led to low supply of bamboo in the markets. However, Ashebir noted that bamboo can be made as strong as other trees through further processing in industries.
“Countries like China and India are producing strong and lasting materials from bamboo. Even though not in a higher amount, we are also exporting different items made up of bamboo trees.” Meanwhile, the lack of latest technologies to further process and produce better bamboo products is one of the challenges that has limited the volume of the country’s export.
“Some of the bamboo industries in our country are not functional. Only two industries are currently in production. These are Adal Bamboo Industry, which is located in Dukem and SA Bamboo industry in Burayu of Oromia State. Besides, planting, harvesting, and processing bamboo tree needs skill. For better quality product, for example, only bamboos of the same age should be harvested and processed together,” according to the expert. The other cause for low income generation from the sector is the marketing problem. Despite the bamboo forests existing on the above mentioned land size, we are still importing bamboo products from other countries.
This is affecting the foreign currency that the nation should have saved from the sector. However, if the country manages to increase both quality and quantity on its bamboo export products, it can export to countries like Sudan, Eritrea, and Somalia, for they have a very high demand. To realize this, pertinent government bodies must work to create market linkages with foreign countries, underlined Ashebir.
“We also need to arrange visual exhibitions that promotes quality bamboo products to correct public misconception and increase the domestic market demand for bamboo products. The Ministry of Urban Development Housing and Construction would use windows and doors made up of bamboo. We also need to advertise, promote, and launch awareness creation programs as well as provide trainings. The government should provide more land for bamboo industries. Banks are ought to owe loans to these industries,” added the expert. Out of the total bamboo plantation, the huge amount is owned by the government.
These communal bamboo farms produce bamboos with low quality compared to the private bamboo farms. Hence, the government needs to take proactive measures to improve the quality of bamboo production. It is also optional to hand over the farms to private farmers, indicated the expert. Meanwhile exerting maximum effort in improving quality of bamboo products is crucial in order to earn the expected amount of income from the sector. The government should launch different awareness creation programs and trainings to farmers to enhance the use of bamboo products for local consumption. In addition, it should work to create export market linkages. All concerned private and government stakeholders should also play their part in order to curb problems in the sector.
Herald January 5/2019
BY GETAHUN LEGESSE
