With 1.5 million ha of bamboo forest, Vietnam ranks 4th among the world’s largest bamboo producers. The bamboo sector has significant development potential in the context of national and international impacts to build a bio-economy and increase the use of biogenic renewable resources. The bamboo industry in Vietnam is considered to have great development potential, with a potential production value of USD 1 billion. However, a number of factors currently significantly limit this potential. For example, the bamboo resource is overexploited and mismanaged; the level of horizontal and vertical cooperation among actors in the Luong bamboo value chain is weak; the utilisation rate of material bamboo is low; high-value bamboo products have not been developed; and benefit sharing among chain actors is unequal. As chopsticks and votive paper are the most common semi-industrial products in Vietnam, this paper analyses the characteristics of chain actors and compares the financial and economic performance of different actors in the chopstick and votive paper value chain (VC) in Thanh Hoa Province. Data were collected through interviews with eight key informants, 12 bamboo producers, five traders, one votive paper company, one chopstick company and six focus group discussions. The results show that the utilisation rate of raw material in the chopstick VC is low at less than 20 %. The net profit per ton of finished product for the processing company is much higher than the net profit for the farmers and traders. The total value added is USD 182.5/ton in the chopstick VC and USD 244/ton in the votive paper VC. The value added by farmers and traders is very low (less than 10 % of the total value added). Possible options for promoting cooperation between chain actors and improving the performance of chain actors are discussed.
Tag: bamboo plants
COVID-19 Pandemic: Impacts, Craftsmen’s Living Strategies, and Economic Recovery of Bamboo Handicraft Enterprise in Gunungkidul, Indonesia
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the household bamboo handicraft industry in rural areas. A comprehensive study was conducted to identify impacts, living strategies, and economic recovery; the findings will be used as a basis to recommend supporting policy to create a more resilient bamboo handicraft business. This study applied phenomenological approach to interpret the social impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. In December 2021, 30 bamboo craftsmen in Semin Village, Gunungkidul, Yogyakarta Special Province were interviewed. Results show that 96.7% of bamboo craftsmen experienced a decrease in profit, with 46.6% reporting no order for a long period. The profit earned by craftsmen decreased by 76.50%. Bamboo craftsmen adapted to the COVID-19 pandemic by minimizing capital expenses, creating innovations marketing in options (i.e., direct sales, selling online) and focusing on alternative income sources (farming, hunting and gathering, selling food, and becoming laborers) to survive. As the spread of the virus was controlled, leading to the relaxation of restrictions on economic activities, the bamboo industry in Semin has entered an economic recovery phase. Currently, the average profit has reached 66.18%, compared to the profit earned in normal pre-pandemic situation. We believe the government should facilitate craftsmen to build their capacity in e-commerce, export mechanism, market network creation, tool acquisition, and English proficiency. This would enhance the bamboo handicraft industry in Semin to be more resilient facing future challenges.
A review of bambusicolous Ascomycota in China with an emphasis on species richness in southwest China
Bamboos not only provide socio-economic benefits to communities within the region, but also provide ecosystem services such as soil-water conservation, stabilization of sandy soils and restoration of soil nutrients. Bambusicolous ascomycetes refer to ascomycetous fungi living on any substrate of bamboo. As the largest group of fungi on bamboo, they play a significant ecological value in species composition and the structure of the fungal community, circulation of materials and energy flow of nutritional elements. In an effort to document the bambusicolous Ascomycota found in China, we assessed all major sources of academic literature, journal papers, and the USDA database (https://nt.ars-grin.gov/fungaldatabases/fungushost/fungushost.cfm) for reports of these fungi from China. As a result, we produced a systematic and comprehensive checklist of bambusicolous Ascomycota in China. Current names of fungi, bamboo host name, bamboo substrate, details of collected localities, references and latest classification for every bambusicolous ascomycete in China are also provided. In addition, we focused on the species richness of bambusicolous Ascomycota in China with an emphasis on southwest China.
Growth and biomass production of five exotic bamboo species in North-western Ethiopia
Forests provide goods and services and the demand for these has increased over the years. To meet this demand, reforestation using fast-growing species is crucial. Bamboo is amongst the fastest-growing plant species. Consequently, the Ministry of Agriculture/East Africa Bamboo Project and the European Union Energy Project/INBAR introduced twenty-three bamboo species to Ethiopia. This study assessed the growth and biomass production potential of five of these exotic bamboo species (Dendrocalamus membranaceus, Dendrocalamus asper, Dendrocalamus hamiltonii, Bambusa vulgaris and Guadua amplexifolia). A randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications was used. Nine seedlings of each species were planted per plot using two meters spacing between and within rows. Sprouted culms per clump, culm length, culm diameter at breast height (DBH), average number of nodes and internode length per culm were measured. At age of 3½ years after planting, one clump of each species per plot in each block was uprooted and sorted into different components (rhizome, culm, branch and leaves). The fresh weight of each component was measured and sub-samples were taken to dry to constant weight. One-way ANOVA and then Tukey’s test were used to find significantly different group means. The growth performance, in terms of culm production, culm height, internode length and biomass production, of the species was significantly different. D. asper and D. hamiltonii had superior growth and biomass production. We therefore recommend planting these two species in Guangua district and other similar areas where they can enhance the livelihoods of the communities.
Growth, yield and economic potential of Strobilanthes cusia (Nees) Kuntze in underutilized bamboo stands in Indonesia
Strobilanthes cusia is a herb species of the Acanthaceae family. This plant is a well-known dye crop. A participatory experiment was conducted regarding S. cusia cultivation under bamboo stands. Strobilanthes cusia seedlings were planted in split plot design consisting of two treatments, with bamboo canopy cover (dense canopy, moderate canopy, sparse canopy, open area) as the main plots and the use of fertiliser (control, swine manure, NPK 16-16-16, NPK plus swine manure) as the sub plots, with each plot being 10 m2. Strobilanthes cusia seedling performance was best under sparse canopy, where on average shoot length was 22.80 cm, the number of leaves was 45.3, and leaf yield at the edge and middle of plot were 1.90 kg/plot and 1.86 kg/plot, respectively. Wet paste yield was best from S. cusia cultivated under the sparse canopy with NPK plus manure (337 g m−2) resulting in dried paste at 0.71 g m−2. Financial feasibility showed that intercropping S. cusia under a natural bamboo stand of Dendrocalamus asper delivered net present value of Indonesian Rupiah 28,951,568 (USD 1,587) with benefit cost ratio of 1.58.
Bambusicolous Fungi in Pleosporales: Introducing Four Novel Taxa and a New Habitat Record for Anastomitrabeculia didymospora
While conducting a survey of bambusicolous fungi in northern Thailand and southwestern China, several saprobic fungi were collected from dead branches, culms and twigs of bamboos, which were preliminarily identified as species belonging to Pleosporales (Dothideomycetes) based on a morphological approach. Multigene phylogenetic analyses based on ITS, LSU, SSU, rpb2, tef1-α and tub2 demonstrated four novel taxa belonging to the families Parabambusicolaceae, Pyrenochaetopsidaceae and Tetraploasphaeriaceae. Hence, Paramultiseptospora bambusae sp. et gen. nov., Pyrenochaetopsis yunnanensis sp. nov. and Tetraploa bambusae sp. nov. are introduced. In addition, Anastomitrabeculia didymospora found on bamboo twigs in terrestrial habitats is reported for the first time. Detailed morphological descriptions and updated phylogenetic trees of each family are provided herein.
Developing small-scale bamboo enterprises for livelihoods and environmental restoration in Benishangul-Gumuz Regional State, Ethiopia
We document the perceptions, practices and policy options in managing lowland bamboo [Oxytenanthera abyssinica] in Benishangul Gumuz Regional State (BGRS) in Ethiopia, particularly to enable small-scale enterprises (SSE) to become more active in this field. This region hosts the largest extent of natural bamboo forests in Ethiopia. There is a recent push to realize bamboo’s economic and environmental potential in Ethiopia, which puts SSEs as crucial actors. There is little or scattered published information on local perceptions and practices surrounding natural bamboo forest management and options for realizing bamboo’s potential from a subnational/local perspective in Africa, including in Ethiopia. In 2018, we conducted a literature review, spatial analysis, participatory mapping, and interviewed experts working in governmental and non-governmental organizations and local stakeholders in BGRS. We find some consensus of the environmental importance of bamboo. In contrast, there is some debate at the subnational level about the economic importance of bamboo, leading to decisions favouring other land uses. Bamboo forests in this region suffer neglect, as they are perceived to be ‘owned by no one and used by everyone’ and will continue to be there without management. Lack of market-driven opportunities, bamboo-specific training among foresters, data on economic contributions of bamboo, and regulations or guidelines to support existing laws have prevented effective management of the bamboo resource. There are multiple bamboo management approaches that open economic opportunities for SSEs in the region. There needs to be more clarity on how to secure land use rights over bamboo forests, accessible financing, market linkages, business training, and low-tech/low-cost technologies to encourage the development of bamboo SSEs.
Bamboo: Potential for bioenergy and landscape restoration in Indonesia
The growing demand for energy in Indonesia is driven by population growth, urbanization and economic development. Meeting this energy demand while reducing dependence on fossil fuels is vital. As Indonesia has a rich biomass base, bioenergy has become an important component of the nation’s energy agenda. However, a crucial problem with bioenergy production is its potential impacts on food security, the environment and biodiversity. In this context, we discuss the characteristics, benefits and challenges of using bamboo, a perennial grass, as a potential provider of bioenergy feedstock in Indonesia. We describe the fuel characteristics of bamboo and the possibility of aligning its cultivation, production and utilization with environmental and development agendas. Its rapid growth, long root systems, easy maintenance and ability to grow in harsh conditions indicate its potential for use in restoring degraded lands. Therefore, we recommend in-depth research on the social, ecological and economic feasibility of using bamboo for bioenergy production.
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