Commercial bamboo cultivation, also known as bamboo farming is a long-standing and well-known business in many nations around the globe. It’s a massive sector that is worth more than 72 billion dollars worldwide in the year 2019.
In reality, bamboo farming is cultivation as well as the raw material industry that supplies the raw materials needed for the wider bamboo industry. It is a long-standing and well-known source of revenue in many countries.
Bamboo farming throughout South, South East Asia and East Asia stretch back thousands of years. One particular practice, which is located that is found in South Korea, has been classified as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems.
Bamboo was historically a predominant source of raw materials in South as well as South East Asia. However, the bamboo industry has seen significant growth in recent years, mostly due to the quality of bamboo when contrasted to other strategies for biomass cultivation (such as traditional wood forestry).
For instance, as of 2016, the U.S. Fiber Company Useful resource Fiber is contracting farmers in America for bamboo cultivation. In 2009, United Nations Industrial Development Organization issued guidelines for the cultivation of bamboo, especially in climates that are semi-arid of Ethiopia as well as Kenya.
Bamboo plants are extremely sturdy and robust. They can thrive on land that is marginal and can be profitably cultivated in many areas that have been degraded.
Bamboo plants also grow fast and are effective mitigation of climate change and carbon sequestration crop taking in between 100-400 tons of carbon for every hectare.
A global intergovernmental organisation was formed to help promote the growth of bamboo cultivation. The Worldwide Bamboo and Rattan Organisation in 1997.
In reality, bamboos are an array of evergreen perennial flowering plants belonging to the family Bambusoideae belonging to the family of grasses Poaceae. The giant bamboos are the largest species of grass in the family.
But bamboos do have important cultural and economic significance throughout South Asia, Southeast Asia as well as East Asia. They are utilized for construction materials as well as as a food source and also as a diverse raw material.
Bamboo, just like wood, is a natural, composite material with a very high strength-to-weight ratio that is useful for building. The strength-to-weight ratio of bamboo is comparable to that of timber in addition, its strength and durability are comparable to that of a sturdy softwood timber or hardwood.
But, bamboos can be used for a variety of applications, and are very expensive. Thus commercial bamboo farming can be a great and profitable venture provided you manage everything well.
Uses of Bamboo
Bamboo can be used to serve a variety of purposes. This is a good opportunity to identify some of the uses of bamboo.
- Fencing
- Construction purposes
- Biomass production
- Material for support in the field of agriculture
- Pulp and paper
- Music instruments
- Particleboards and boards for panels
- Furniture making
- Handicrafts
- Textiles
- For writing surfaces
- The leaves can be eaten
- Many more uses ……..
Benefits from Bamboo Farming Business
Bamboo farming for commercial purposes is a long-standing and lucrative venture. It’s also extremely popular and easy to get into. Even beginners can get started in the business without difficulty.
We attempt to explain the advantages of commercial bamboo farming.
- Bamboo farming in commercial quantities is an extremely old and well-known business across the globe.
- Bamboo production for commercial purposes is not a novel idea for a business. A lot of people have already started this type of business.
- The process of starting a commercial bamboo farming business is easy. Anyone can start this business even with no experience.
- Bamboo plants grow more quickly than most other plants. It’s simple to make a good profit from this industry.
- Bamboo farming on a commercial scale is has been a successful business. Therefore, you don’t need to fret about establishing and running this business.
- Bamboo plants are robust and durable, and growing them is simple. They generally need less maintenance and also less management.
- The capital requirement for commercial bamboo farming is lower. But the returns are quite high.
- Demand and value for bamboo in the marketplace are quite high. Therefore, you’ll be able to generate significant profits from this industry.
- Bamboo and bamboo-based products have huge demand and selling are simple and easy. It is easy to offer your products to any local or nearby market.
- Bamboo farming as a commercial venture is a business that is profitable and can provide an ideal source of employment for people, particularly for those who are educated, but not employed people.
How to Begin Bamboo Farming Business
The process of starting a commercial business in bamboo farming is fairly simple If following the step guide to bamboo production. It’s easy to do and beginners can also get started in the business.
But, we attempt to explain more about how to start and run an effective bamboo farming business beginning with the planting phase, through care, harvesting and selling.
Site Selection
Bamboo plants thrive all over the globe. It is better when you choose the area that has sandy clay and loamy loam soils.
The chosen site should be well-drained. The soil that is slightly acidic in characteristics or pH between 4.5 to 6 is thought to be excellent for bamboo farming.
Preparation of the Land
Similar to other agricultural businesses It is important to ensure that your land is prepared properly. Remove bushes, grasses, and other unwelcome materials and plants of the property. The ploughing process and the addition of organic fertilizers are equally crucial.
Climate Requirements
The most suitable conditions that can be used for farming bamboo include tropical and warm temperate climates. According to some research, under these conditions, bamboo can grow 3 inches per day.
Rainfall is essential for the commercial bamboo farming business. An average of fewer than 1200 millimetres a year is not suitable to cultivate bamboo.
The humidity of the region is supposed to range between 75% to 85 per cent, and a speed of the wind above 80 km per hour could cause major problems, particularly in the construction phase.
Varieties/Cultivars
There are many varieties of bamboo that are available across the globe. Certain varieties are ideal to be used in commercial manufacturing.
It is important to select varieties that thrive in your local area. It is possible to talk with farmers who live in your region for more recommendations.
Propagation
Bamboo is propagated through a variety of methods. And the material used to plant bamboo can be found as wildings, seeds offsets, cuttings tissue cultured plantlets and air-layering.
All of these plant materials must be cultivated for a set time in a nursery before transferring them to the main field.
Seeds propagation for large plantations isn’t a widely utilized method, since seeds are created when bamboo plants bloom and the time frame can range between 40 and 80 years. Seed propagation produces seedlings in 8-12 months, However, it is dependent on nutrients and water.
Wildings can be harvested from bamboo clusters that are young by scooping them out with spades. A lot of seedlings can be raised using this way, but it is evident that the development of the plant is inadequate due to the disruption in the root system when rooting.
Also, vegetative propagation via rhizomes is the best method to propagate large plantations. This method is widely and commonly employed.
Purchase Planting Materials
You can buy the planting supplies from any of the local nurseries. You can also purchase them from relatives or farmers who are already in your area.
Planting
After ploughing and cleaning the ground, you will need to decide on a layout that is suitable and then dig pits to plant. The size of the pit is contingent on the kind of planting material utilized.
The pits are usually large and deep to ensure that the bamboo that is newly planted gets established quickly. Pit dimensions maybe 60 x 60cm in areas with heavy rainfall. In areas where rainfall is not as heavy, the pit can be as large as 1 one meter.
The distance between seeds should be 5 x 4 meters, which means that an acre could accommodate around 200 plants. The offset should be placed 10-20cm below the soil and covered with soil. Then press the soil lightly over the plant.
The Planting Season
Bamboo can be planted at any season (except winter when there is heavy snow). However, the rainy season and wet days are ideal to plant bamboo plants.
Caring
Bamboo plants are extremely robust and durable and develop quickly. They usually require less care and other care. However, taking extra care will allow them to develop and develop.
Fertilizing
The correct application of fertilizer plays an important part in commercial bamboo cultivation. Fertilizers are essential to an excellent yield and high-quality bamboo, particularly when seedlings are transferred from the nursery to the main field.
Bamboo is a heavy feeder. Therefore, even fertile soils will be depleted over a few years if fertilizers were not used. Get an expert’s advice in your local area for a piece of more accurate advice.
Watering/Irrigation
A regular flow of water or irrigation must be done during the time that bamboo plants are being grown in nursery beds. Make sure to water them immediately following the transplant of the seedlings of a nursery to the main field.
The frequency of irrigation will depend on the soil’s water-holding capacity and climate conditions. It is recommended to let the plant get dry before watering it once more. It is possible to use drip irrigation for better use of water.
Mulching
Mulching is crucial for commercial bamboo cultivation. Mulching can help prevent plant growth and help to keep moisture in the soil. Utilize organic materials to mulch (such as straw or hay).
Weeding
The weeds eat up nutrients from soils and make the primary crop is affected. So control weeds regularly. Mulching will not eliminate most weeds.
Hand-weeding and hoeing can help in removing the growth of weeds. Since sunlight causes the growth of weeds, creating shade on the ground and lowering temperatures is a good way to check the weeds.
Inter Cropping
It is possible to utilize the space between bamboo plants through inter-cropping. Ginger, chillies and turmeric are excellent choices for intercropping.
Pests and Diseases
Similar to other commercial crop varieties bamboo plants are vulnerable to commonly-spread diseases and pests. The most frequent pests that attack bamboo plants include Aphids, Beetles, Mealybugs, Scales and Termites. You can utilize both organic and chemical pesticides in stopping these insects.
Bamboo Blight, branch die-back foliage blight, small leaf leaves rust leaves rust, roots rot and rhizome thread blight, witches broom are all common diseases that affect the bamboo plant.
It is possible to avoid the majority of the diseases when you check your plants regularly. The majority of the diseases can be prevented by the removal and cutting of affected portions in the plants. Additionally, you can apply fungicides prophylactically to limit the spread of disease.
Harvesting
Bamboo can be harvested by culms being selected rather than cutting down the bamboo. Certain species of bamboo re-grow naturally the following harvesting.
The bamboo crop is mature enough to harvest within about five years. You should begin harvesting from the middle, as new clumps grow upwards while the older clumps are left in the middle.
While you harvest, keep some strong clumps of wood on the tree to help support these new soft culms that have been created for some time (otherwise they’d be bent).
Yield
It’s extremely difficult to know how much. It’s contingent upon a myriad of variables. The yield per year of bamboo is contingent on the species, as well as the surrounding.
The typical weight of the culms is 10 kg The yield for the beginning is approximately 10 tonnes per acres. This production will be stable at around 14.5 tonnes/acre by the ninth year after the planting.
Marketing
Bamboo marketing is simple and easy. You’ll probably be able to market your products on your local marketplace. However, you must determine your marketing strategy before launching your business.
These are the most common methods and steps to start and run the most successful bamboo farming company. I hope this guide has helped you! Have fun and I pray that God is with you!
