How to practice bamboo tree farming

The bamboo tree is an evergreen perennial plant considered as the largest and tallest member of the grass family.

Though not widely grown in Kenya despite its huge potential and multiple benefits bamboo trees can be a huge source of income.

Many Kenyans are known to plant them for ornamental value to beautify their homes.

Uses and benefits

.

Keep Reading

• Kenyan agricultural traders eye market opportunities through CIIE
• Causes and solutions of pecking in flock of birds
• Why Calf Diarrhoea is Common on the Farm
• Vihiga farmers minting money from African leafy vegetables
• Ditching maize for bananas

Bamboo’s most common use is in the construction industry to build houses, bridges, pillars, roofing, and pillars.

They are also value-added to make furniture, beer, baskets, matchsticks, toothpicks, serviette holders, chairs, sofa sets, TV stands, tables, pen holders, floor tiles, beds, bill holders, kitchen tongs, bamboo spoons, wine holders, vases, jugs, chopping boards, art products, boats and coat holders.

Some of the health benefits of bamboo include having anti-inflammatory properties that can tackle arthritis and reduce bleeding from cuts. The leaves are anti-cancer and can also be used to make herbal medicines that regulate blood sugar level, regulate cholesterol level, skin treatments and boost the immune system.

Bamboo can also be used to feed people and animals. Communities living around Mount Elgon eat bamboo shoots as a delicacy.

The bamboo shoots are edible and help reduce weight, protect heart health, lower blood pressure, treat stomach disorders and manage diabetes as quoted by organicfacts.

Other benefits include the leaves being used as livestock fodder, making tea, and the woody stems can be burnt to make charcoal, musical instruments and fences.

Some textile industries also use bamboo fibre to make clothes that are elegant and cool compared to cotton fabrics. according to media reports.

Moreover, bamboo stems can be used to make troughs for feeding poultry their feeds.

Bamboo can simply replace timber and reduce deforestation as they also make paper.  

Planting

There are two varieties of bamboo namely the Clumping (sympodial) and Running (monopodial).

According to a Kefri senior scientist and bamboo expert, Mr. Gordon Sigu, the most prevalent bamboo species in the country is the alpine bamboo.

It does well in a wide range of climates with the ability to adapt to harsh soil and weather conditions.

It is low maintenance and one of the fastest-growing grass plants in the world.

They grow well in well-drained, aerated, light soils with a soil PH of 6.5 to 8 notes kuzabiashara.

Bamboo does well in average annual temperatures of about 20 to 27 degrees Celsius.

They are planted from seedlings which are usually locally available in nurseries or from cuttings.

The seedlings take about three to four years to grow to maturity when they become commercially useful.

Before planting a farmer prepares the land and adds manure to the soil.

Bamboo is hardly attacked by pests and diseases.

It also helps to control and prevent soil erosion, raises the water table, mitigating climate change and are a renewable resource.

Farm practices such as mulching should be done to preserve moisture, add fertility on decomposition and suppress weeds.

A farmer should consider watering before full maturity for healthy growth.

Pests and diseases

However, pests and diseases that might attack bamboo trees, according to media reports, including the Bamboo Mosaic Virus, Sooty mold, root and heart rots which are controlled by applying appropriate insecticides and fungicides.