By Okong’o Oduya
Youths in Busia County are now making products from Bamboo tree after a training on Bamboo Value addition.
In recent times products made of Bamboo are fast gaining world’s recognition as it creates employment opportunities to many youths globally.
Training youths in Busia on how to utilize bamboo is helping in addressing challenges facing climatic change, poverty, rural –urban migration and provides economic reasons that a number of them have never witnessed.
More than 21 youths from Busia County underwent training on how to properly put to use Bamboo tree to make various products to empower themselves.
According to the Eco green Kenya, a non-profit organization based in Busia County, those who underwent training were taught how to make furniture, straws, baskets and jewelries among other items from bamboo trees.
Jackline Namadi, the coordinator at eco-green noted that as an organization they will monitor closely with the trainees to make sure that they put to practice what they have learnt.
In what is seen as the better opportunity for youths from the county, Jackie noted that as an organization they will capitalize on the early maturity of bamboo trees for commercial purposes. She says 80 per cent of farmers in Busia are embracing the bamboo farming where over 200 acres of land in the county is already covered by the tree and plans are underway to plant more
She dismissed believes that bamboo trees attract dangerous wild animals such as snakes, adding that those who have ventured in it are ripping big as they harvest after every three month amounting to up to ksh300, 000.
“I grew up here and I know what it means being jobless. If youths can embrace this, I know this will be greatest opportunity for them to earn a living,” she said.
Kenya Forest Research Institute (KEFRI) in collaboration with Eco-green, International bamboo and rattan organization noted that besides conserving the environment, bamboo trees have proven to be of a great benefit to those who want to venture in the business.
Charles Gitau officer from forest department in Busia County urged those trained to share the knowledge acquired with learners in polytechnic, prisons department and those working as carpenters on how they can apply the same skills in utilizing bamboo tree instead of relying on trees for timber.
He asked them to get to partner with other stakeholders such as prisons department and county government to get capital to put to use what they have learnt.
“This business will empower these youths economically by using the natural resources to come up with projects that will help them earn a living in future, Gitau said.
However, Gitau called upon the County government of Busia to develop policies that will see households in Busia to use bamboo trees as firewood, furniture and charcoal instead of using trees that take years to grow and leads to reduction of forest cover which is standing at 1 percent countrywide.
According to UNESCO resport, 70 hectares of bamboo produce enough of the material to build 1000 bamboo houses. If timber was used instead, it would require the felling of trees from an already diminishing forest. Today, over one billion people in the world live in bamboo houses.
The made products will go between ks50 –ksh120, 000 depending on the market and the product .
The process of making the products starts with the cutting of bamboo, they are then put together with local materials and glue to stick them together to offer different looks and then are smoothen
Although the group hopes to scale up and look for both local and international markets, they are threatened by lack of resources and market for their finish products.
