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Commodity Strategy

In October 2000 INBAR was recognized as the International Commodity Body for Bamboo and Rattan by the CFC and its views on the development of the commodities are encapsulated in its Strategy to 2005 and formalized as a developmental logical framework for the whole area of work. It is believed that by focusing on sustainable commodity management and development, on transfer of technology and expertise, and on improving the enabling environment in which bamboo production, processing, marketing and use operate, the livelihoods of rural poor in bamboo-rich areas can be improved.

Resource-poor people are able to increase their incomes by the production of crafts and subsistence-use products made from bamboo. Such activities link and benefit both rural and urban poor. However, the market for bamboo crafts is limited as these products are non-essential, and subsistence-use products are of low value. Over the past twenty years or so, a wide range of industrial uses have been developed for bamboo in some nations, and these products are presently being produced and utilized in ever increasing quantities in countries such as China, India and Malaysia.

These products have larger and more sustainable markets than traditional handicrafts or subsistence products, and their bamboo origins, particularly given their “green” status as substitutes for timber-derived softwood, often adds to their attraction in the affluent markets of developed countries. Bamboo flooring, paneling and molding products have achieved significant new markets in developed countries, and a wide range of bamboo boards such as mat board, glue-lam board and particleboard have growing national-use markets in producing countries. Local use and export of other bamboo products such as processed bamboo shoots and bamboo charcoal contribute significantly to the bamboo sectors in producing countries, benefiting rural and urban producers and processors alike.

The existence of these products and the technologies and skills needed for their production, and the influences of the enabling environment that affect their use to fuel such sectoral growth is limited to a very few, relatively “bamboo-advanced” countries. Enabling transfer of these technologies, developing local production and use of new products, and ensuring a supportive enabling environment for their production, use and marketing in countries in which they are not presently produced is one of the key strategies for commodity development.

Section Links

» Bamboo Taxonomy

» Bamboo Diversity

» Comodity Strategy

» Bamboo Trade

Related Topics

» Project overview

» Accomplished and planned activities

» General and specific objectives of the project

» Constraints to development of Bamboo industries

» Instituions involved and responssibilities