Bamboo Resources in Ethiopia: Their value chain and contribution to livelihoods

Abstract

linkage among actors. Access to market is difficult for a majority (88%) of the producers, and hence they sell bamboo culms and other product forms locally, mainly in roadside markets. Despite the inefficient value chains, 85% of the respondents indicated an increasing trend of demand for bamboo products. Market assessment for bamboo culms showed a price elasticity of demand, which is the change in quantity divided by change in price, up to Research AbstractEthiopia has an estimated one million hectares of natural bamboo forest, the largest in the African continent. Despite the versatile resource base and advanced bamboo utilization at a global scale, its great potential to enhance socio-economic and ecological development remains unrealized in Ethiopia. More importantly, recent observations in the country showed massive bamboo flowering followed by a death that urges management interventions. The objective of this study was to examine the socio-economic contribution of bamboo resources and typify their marketing value chain across major bamboo-growing and -marketing regions in Ethiopia, in order to promote its sustainable management. Structured questionnaires were administered to a total of 345 households to inspect the relative contribution of bamboo income to household economy. Participatory rural appraisal, key informant interviews, group discussions, market assessment, and field observations were made to understand the bamboo marketing system, actors involved, price trends, and factors affecting the bamboo value chain. Results show that crop and livestock production, forest management, and off-farm activities are major sources of income for respondent households. Fifty-three percent of the respondents reported bamboo income. Though it significantly varies across the study localities (p < 0.005), bamboo income contributed up to 11% of the annual cash income of the households, the lowest (3.4%) at Masha and the largest (38%) at Banja and Bahir Dar Zuria Districts. Positive and significant correlation was observed among cash incomes from bamboo, crop, petty trade, and other Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs). Producer farmers, village level traders, town and city wholesalers, small-and medium-scale bamboo processing and marketing firms, and town and city consumers are identified as major actors in the bamboo value chain. Fifty-five percent of the respondents indicated presence of poor horizontal and vertical Published: 23 November 2014 Ethnobotany Research & Applications 512www.ethnobotanyjournal.org/vol12/i1547-3465-12-511.pdf for technology innovation, upgrading and integrating the bamboo value chain, and promoting sustainable management of the resource base.

Potentials of Bamboo-Based Agroforestry for Sustainable Development in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Review

“…In many parts of SSA, bamboo is currently being promoted for forest plantation developments to 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 reduce the natural forests for timber and wood fuels [33,52,83]. However, sscientists will agree that sole bamboo plantation developments may impact negatively on food security except they are arguably established on degraded lands.…”

Socioeconomic Contribution of Oxytenanthera abyssinica (A.Rich) Munro and Determinants of Growing in Homestead Agroforestry System in Northern Ethiopia

“…Nevertheless, recently a South African paper pulp company has invested in bamboo supply pulp fabrication ability in the country (NPSB 2013). Besides the rural income and employment opportunities, bamboo makes a significant contribution to ecological services (Belay et al 2013, Krishnankutty 1998, Mekonnen et al 2014, Nath et al 2009). The natural bamboo forest is rapidly diminishing through indiscriminate clearing for agricultural expansion, mass flowering, and the lack of priority in its development, which together join forces to erode its numbers (Embaye 2000, Kigomo 2007, Mekonnen et al 2014.…”

“…In Ethiopia, in contrast to Asia, bamboo has been used traditionally as a raw material for building and making numerous household utensils, basketry, and handicrafts (Andargatchew 2008, Belay et al 2013, Mekonnen et al 2014. Nevertheless, recently a South African paper pulp company has invested in bamboo supply pulp fabrication ability in the country (NPSB 2013).…”

“…Besides the rural income and employment opportunities, bamboo makes a significant contribution to ecological services (Belay et al 2013, Krishnankutty 1998, Mekonnen et al 2014, Nath et al 2009). The natural bamboo forest is rapidly diminishing through indiscriminate clearing for agricultural expansion, mass flowering, and the lack of priority in its development, which together join forces to erode its numbers (Embaye 2000, Kigomo 2007, Mekonnen et al 2014. This has led to reduction in O. abyssinica cover to make land available to agricultural expansion and overexploitation especially in the more accessible forest areas of northern Ethiopia (Embaye 2003, Gebrehiwot 2004.…”

“…Munro) and highland bamboo (Yushania alpina (K. Schum) W.C.Lin. ), together composing 67% of the African total (Embaye 2003, Mekonnen et al 2014. Zhaohua (2001) reported that over 1500 different uses of bamboo have been documented around the world.…”