SAN JOSE, Antique – Farmers are encouraged to plant more bamboos for their livelihood and to help address the pressing problem on climate change in the province.
Edgardo Manda, president of the Philippine Bamboo Furniture, Inc, said the market is ripe for bamboo commercial and industrial use on Thursday.
“There is a big demand for bamboo products both domestically and internationally,” said Manda during the Change Adaptation and Mitigation Summit of the Provincial Disaster Risk and Reduction and Management Council.
He noted farmers have to be trained on bamboo propagation, nursery, establishment of livelihood, and linkage to the market in order to sustain their interest.
“There is a need to train farmers on crop management,” he added.
Manda said the Department of Trade and Industry, while providing training and equipment for the commercial and industrial use of bamboo, lacks extension of training on the production of raw materials.
“The problem is that the Department of Agriculture does not accept bamboo as an agriculture commodity like fiber and other consumer products,” Manda said.
He said by planting more bamboos, farmers can help in climate change adaptation and mitigation because the bamboo does carbon sequestration.
“For one hectare of bamboo, it absorbs 62 tons of carbon dioxide,” he said.
He also said that bamboo, which has very strong and extensive roots, is effective in terms of erosion control and landslide. (With a report from PNA/PN)
