Magical bamboo: Great opportunities coming up...

Mwalimu-G

Mwalimu-G

Elder Lister
The government is in a massive drive to establish bamboo plantations in its forests and encouraging farmers to plant some on their river banks. Though the main objective is to conserve water, this fast growing tree (ready for harvesting in four to five years) has infinite economic potential. Being a renewable resource once established with tens of uses, the tree offers opportunities to youth who are not limited by lack of creativity and lethargy.
It is not enough to keep ranting that we import toothpicks from China. This 13 min video will open your eyes to the limitless possibilities with bamboo.

 
Mwalimu-G said:
The government is in a massive drive to establish bamboo plantations in its forests and encouraging farmers to plant some on their river banks. Though the main objective is to conserve water, this fast growing tree (ready for harvesting in four to five years) has infinite economic potential. Being a renewable resource once established with tens of uses, the tree offers opportunities to youth who are not limited by lack of creativity and lethargy.
It is not enough to keep ranting that we import toothpicks from China. This 13 min video will open your eyes to the limitless possibilities with bamboo.

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I suggested that this could work in Kenya and Klist experts laughed me out of the village... @upepo sirkal ya Kanywaji 1 iko wrong pia?
kenyanlist.net

Nyamira County Assembly Building Collapses

Only consolation is that it was under construction la sivyo Embarambamba angekuwa na matanga mingi sana to perform in. It is reported that rescue operations are still on. Apparently the contract was worth 379M!
kenyanlist.net kenyanlist.net
 
It's Me Scumbag said:
I suggested that this could work in Kenya and Klist experts laughed me out of the village... @upepo sirkal ya Kanywaji 1 iko wrong pia?
kenyanlist.net

Nyamira County Assembly Building Collapses

Only consolation is that it was under construction la sivyo Embarambamba angekuwa na matanga mingi sana to perform in. It is reported that rescue operations are still on. Apparently the contract was worth 379M!
kenyanlist.net kenyanlist.net
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Sirkal will clutch onto anything to seem busy and proactive, even when it has no idea where it is headed. I have seen the same intent expressed since the 90s, just by different characters at different times.
 
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shocks said:
it will for sure replace blue gum in construction sites for scaffolding
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The volumes needed to make it competitive against other alternatives are too massive to achieve in the near future, especially by a resource-strapped government and small farmers in need of assured income. I doubt any investors would be willing to go large-scale in something that is not yet proven in the local market.
 
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upepo said:
The volumes needed to make it competitive against other alternatives are too massive to achieve in the near future, especially by a resource-strapped government and small farmers in need of assured income. I doubt any investors would be willing to go large-scale in something that is not yet proven in the local market.
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Hata toothpick na mishikaki are not tested? We start small then diversify.
 
upepo said:
The two items are too minor to absorb any sensible volumes, plus they require additional investments in machinery, after which one would still be forced to compete with established producers, most of who harvest the tree from the wild.
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Are you suggesting that we therefore do nothing about it? Okay, tungojeni mhindi afungue kiwanda basi.
 
Mwalimu-G said:
Are you suggesting that we therefore do nothing about it? Okay, tungojeni mhindi afungue kiwanda basi.
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I would rather we pursue more practical avenues, like making the said toothpicks and mishikaki from materials we have in plenty. Wherever a farmer can plant bamboo in Kenya, they can plant something different with quicker, better, and more assured returns. The success of Bamboo in Asia stems from the fact that the region has large swathes of natural bamboo forests. This means they can access bamboo with zero investment in farm labor and land. The plantations came in later as supplements after worthwhile economic uses had been established.
 
upepo said:
The success of Bamboo in Asia stems from the fact that the region has large swathes of natural bamboo forests.
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I am beginning to wonder if you watched the video coz it began by showing how they propagate new plantations.
Your so-called tried and tested methods/ventures (like rearing layers for example?) already have practitioners crying about unfair competition. I am suggesting this resource as a new area that a creative young man can look into to exploit.

But I am familiar too with this attitude of people who are defeated before they give an idea enough thinking.
 
Mwalimu-G said:
I am beginning to wonder if you watched the video coz it began by showing how they propagate new plantations.
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I have not watched the video, but I have been using bamboo, which is harder to procure than weed. That got me questioning why it has not taken off despite being a no-brainer. No other plant will give you a forest and usable wood in less than five years. I know a farmer with a few trees. He is not a violent man, but you might want to keep a safe distance before you suggest that he plants more trees. In short, bamboo farming sounds like a great idea but the question is, will it work in our case?
 
It's Me Scumbag said:
Now you got me intrested. Care to elaborate a little more?
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I mostly use it on small furniture parts that need to withstand high stresses, parts that would be too weak if made from regular wood. For instance, a quarter inch thick plank of wood can be made to behave like a 1 inch thick plank by gluing strips of bamboo beneath it. Will get you a pictorial use example some day.
 
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