1015-A1

BAMBOO AND RATTAN: VEHICLE FOR POVERTY ALLEVIATION IN NIGERIA.

DR. OLUFEMI OMIYALE FFAN. ¹

ABSTRACT

About twenty percent of Nigeria forests fall into the tropical rainforest area. These forests consist of various flora and fauna on which over eighty percent of our rural population depend for their livelihood. Bamboo and rattan are non-wood forest products available in these Nigerian rain forests and remained for a longtime as untapped natural resources.

The economic changes taking place in Nigeria, one of the countries in transition towards maket economies are among the most important development at present. This has brought about awareness of the resources on their socio economic impacts to the country as they are now catalyst between communities, goverment services, academia, policy makers and inter governmental organisations.

The paper examines the situation of the resource base production and cultivation, processing and utilisation of these two species, marketing as well as the socio-economic characterstics of the species were examined to date.

Policy and legislation to back the full development of the species for subtainable management were also proposed while the constraints in the sub- sector were outlined

The needs for strategic research in the country on the two species were highlighted.

The paper concluded and recommended among other things international financial assistance, research and development in the management of the species in the natural forests and plantations.

Research is also advocated into the Biology, phenology and medicinal values of Bamboo and rattan in the country.

1.0 INTRODUCTION

The Nigerian forests consist of various flora and fauna typical of most tropical countries of the world. These forest resources of the country are major sources of subsistence especially to the local populace. They are seen as free gift of nature which could be exploited freely at will. Bamboo and Rattan are regarded as non wood forest products. The growing awareness of these two resources in recent times and the socio-economics associated with them have contributed to the increasing recognition. There is now a growing awareness of the benefits of non wood resources to the rural communities especially within the developing countries (Ismail and Chintuck, 1993). Over the years, the level of the importance these non wood resources to the rural communities are not fully appreciated. Some of the reasons for this include: lack of acknowledgement in the protective and productive aspects of traditional forest practices, lack of information regarding the available yield, qualities, preparations and utilization as well as lack of consideration of their potential value to the national economy. Attention is now being given to these resources because of population increase natural resource depletion, worsening economic climate and the inability of developing countries to afford imports.

Bamboo and Rattan exploitation and utilization have yielded direct and immediate micro level benefits to economically disadvantages of rural communities in Nigeria.

2.0 BAMBOO

In Nigeria there are two varieties of bamboo, viz: Bambusa vulgaris and oxystenanthera abyssynica. The former attains a height of between 14 - 20 meter at maturity with a girth of about 20cm. The later reaches between 8 - 12 meter at maturity. The two varieties grow naturally in the forests below River Niger and in Taraba States.

2.1 RATTAN

Rattan commonly called cane in the country was identified in 1968 by Hutchinson as Calamus deerratus. This species has two varieties one with large diameter which is referred to as 'big cane' by cane product makers while the other is known as small cane. The former ranges from 2-3cm in diameter, while the later ranges from 0.2 - 1.5cm in diameter, Okafor et al (1994) identified two other cane species as Eremospatha and Lacosperma Secondiflora.

3.0 PRODUCTION AND CULTIVATION

3.1 BAMBOO

Bamboo still grows in the wild mostly around river courses. There is no plantation of bamboo yet established in the country. The Nigeria paper Mill in Jebba tried to establish the species for fiber production, but due to financial situation of the company then, the idea was abandoned.

3.2 RATTAN

Rattan grows in the virgin and secondary forests. The climber exists in about twenty states of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. No plantation of rattan presently exists in the country.

4.0 PROCESSING AND UTILIZATION

4.1 BAMBOO

Bamboo mostly grow in clumps. Matured ones are cut down at the base and branches removed to the required utilizable length. The species is used for scaffolding in the building industry which has greatly reduced pressure on wood from natural forests and plantations. Our farmers used it for yam staking. In the urban areas, few restaurant are usually constructed with bamboo to enhance its aesthetic beauty. Bamboo is also used as ornaments in big hotels like, Sheraton, NICON NUGA in Abuja, Nigeria. In the south-eastern part of Nigeria where soil erosion has become a menace, bamboos are usually planted or used as fences to check or reduce the rate of water flow on the vulnerable landscape. Thus, they are commonly used for environmental improvement..

4.2 RATTAN

Rattan canes have long flexible stems that through trees in the forest. Some have been known to reach about 50 meter in length. The canes are used for furniture, mat and hatmaking. Rattan provides raw materials for handicraft and cottage industries. Rattan also produce fruits that have medicinal values.

5.0 MARKETS FOR BAMBOO AND RATTAN

5.1 BAMBOO

Ready market exists for bamboo in the construction industry. For the farmers in the yam cultivating areas of the country, there is high demand for the product. Along the riverine areas of Nigeria, houses are built entirely with bamboo with only raffia palm used for roofing. Various bamboo products are given in table 1.

5.2 RATTAN

The range of producing from rattan shows that the marketing of rattan products are on the increase. Some of the products from rattan are shown in table 2.

6.0 SOCIO-ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SUB-SECTOR

6.1 BAMBOO

The rural communities harvest the product indiscriminately on their land for sale to the urban dwellers. In most cities in Nigeria, bamboo posts are arranged for sale at designated depot. In Abuja, the Federal capital city of Nigeria a pole of matured bamboo of between 6 and 8 meter is between $1 and $2. The sources of the product to the city are from States some of which are about 1000 km away. Thus, bamboo improves both rural and urban socio-economies.

6.2 RATTAN

Rattan uses vary from raw materials to furnished products involving various labour skills. Raw canes are processed before being used in the cane industry. Along the line in the industry various hands are involved. This consequently provide employment to rural and urban populace, mostly to the farmer. A set furniture made of rattan in Nigeria could cost as much as over $700.00. The demand for cane products in Nigeria continues to increase due to its durability.

7.0 POLICY AND LEGISLATION RELEVANT TO THE SPECIES

In the Agricultural policy for Nigeria in which Forestry is a subsector, there are strategies for implementation. The relevant portion for Forestry States "The supply of such non wood products as gum arabic, tannin, medicinal plants and other important products which are derived directly and indirectly from Forests must be sustainably managed". The demand for bamboo and rattan which are non wood products is growing with the increasing population of the country. There is no doubt that policy and legislation that will promote the sustainable production of raw materials for the industries will be put in place in accordance with Antalya Declaration of 1997.

8.0 CONSTRAINTS IN THE SUB SECTOR

The followings are regarded as some of the constraints in the bamboo and return sub-sector.

(i) Lack of inventory data on the raw materials base
(ii) Wastage in the processing of the materials
(iii) Lack of up to data information on the contribution of the sector to employment.
(iv) The technical know how of people in the sector has not been studied, therefore improvement could not be provided.
(v) There is no proper government policy and legislation on the sector and therefore control of it's development is difficult.
(vi) Contribution to National GDP is not known
(vii) The importance of the sector in the socio economic development of the country is yet to be known and acknowledged.
(viii) The yield, qualities and silvicultural requirements of the resources are not fully known.
(ix)

9.0 ACTIVTIES IN THE SECTOR

9.1 BAMBOO

Bambusa vulgaris is the commonest bamboo species in the rain forest areas of the country that grow naturally Jebba paper Mill (Nigeria) Ltd tried sometimes ago to raise the species in plantation for fibre production. The effort was aborted due to financial difficulty of the company. In Obowo LGA of Imo State, Nigeria, there exist a local Community Based Organisation (CBO) that specialized in using Bamboo and other local resources to check soil erosion in their locality. The vulnerability of their agricultural lands to soil erosion has propelled them to develop initiatives towards addressing the problem. Today, their efforts are being emulated by other communities around. However, there may still be some institutions yet to be discovered who may be involved in the bamboo activities.

9.2 RATTAN

In 1992 under a technical assistance by Breda in Netherlands a small study was conducted on Rattan site assessment at Ejirin location and Lagos Penisula. The report was given to Agroscope (Nigeria) Ltd. There may be other institutions involved in rattan activities which may be discovered later. Since the completion of the study, nothing has happened to the findings.

10.0 PAST AND ON-GOING DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS

Bamboo and Rattan have not received much efforts for development by government or private sector. The report given to Agroscope (Nigeria) Ltd only did site assessment, rattan species in the Ejirin area of Ogun State. Okiriguo (1995) also wrote a masters of science Thesis on economic aspects of cane product industries in selected local government areas of Delta State.

11.0 NEEDS FOR STRATEGIC RESEARCH

There is urgent need for strategic research on bamboo and rattan in Nigeria along these lines.

(i) Inventory of the species in the country.
(ii) Silviculture of the species in the nursery and plantations
(iii) Agroforestry option using bamboo or rattan or both
(iv) Plantations of the species either as pure or mixed.
(v) Identifications of rattan and bamboo species in the country and the introduction of exotic ones.
(vi) Socio economic impacts of the species on the rural communities.

12.0 NEEDS FOR DEVELOPMENT INTERVENTIONS INVOLVING BAMBOO AND RATTAN

In Nigeria, bamboo plant has long been recognized as an economically important used in the building industry for scaffolding and for yam staking by farmers. The species also assist to stabilize river bank and protect the shore especially in fresh water areas.Cane on the other hand is increasingly being used all over the country for furniture and other household materials. The development efforts on these species need a great boost by international organisation to prevent further destruction of the remaining tropical forests in Nigeria.

Currently, there is an on-going Forest Resources Study in Nigeria. The outcome of the study will enable us know the species richness of forests. However records exists that some Forests Reserves are no longer productive. In view of the ecosystem where these Forest Reserve exist, rattan plantation can be established in them as an enrichment planting programs to improve the quality of the reserves. However, international support will be needed in this area because of its novelty in Nigeria.

There are no known Non-Governmental Organisational (NGOS) existing in the country that are specifically addressing he issues of bamboo and rattan. However, there are committed individuals or groups that can turn around bamboo and rattan development and utilization within five years if they have international financial backing since the local market for their utilization exists.

13.0 NEEDS FOR CHANGES IN POLICY AND LEGISLATION

The Federal Government of Nigeria put in place agricultural policy in 1988. This is being reviewed. A new National law and policy in Forestry and Wildlife is being prepared. The new documents will adequately address the issues of non wood forest products where bamboo and rattan belong.

14.0 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Nigeria is a country with an economy in transition. Over 80 percent of our population live in rural environment where their subsistence depends on the forests. The development, management and utilization of bamboo and rattan in the country will turn around rural economies if properly pursued. In this way, it will help to alleviate rural poverty.

It is hereby recommended that the International Communities assist the country to carry out:

(i) Inventory of bamboo and rattan in terms of location, quantity and quality.
(ii) Research and development in the establishment and management of the species in the natural forests and in plantations.
(iii) Setting up cottage industries that will use the raw materials sustainably.
(iv) Identify viable projects based on bamboo and rattan plantations to be implemented in forest reserves that have been classified as un-productive (in terms of timber resources), but whose productivity can be enhanced through enrichment plantings in specific places.
(v) Research needs to be conducted into the biology, phenology and medicinal values of bamboo and rattan in Nigeria.

REFERENCES

Antalya Declaration of the XI World Forestry Congress 1997, Non-Wood Forest Products; Outcome of the session. Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Water Resources and Rural Development, Lagos 1988. Agricultural policy for Nigeria Forestry Subsector, Strategies for Implementation. 19pp.

Ismail, A and Y. Chintuck (1993). Social and Economic Implications of Non-Wood Resources in Forest Development, paper presented at the 14 ^th Common Wealth Forestry Conference, September 13-18, 1993, Kuala-Lumpur, Malaysia.

Okafor, J.C.F.I. Omoriodon and P.S. Amaza (1994). Non-Timber Forestry Products: Tropical Forestry Action Programme study Report, Nigeria. 185pp.

Okiriguo, Mabel (1995). Economic Aspects of cane product industries in selected Local Government Areas of Delta State: Unpublished M.Sc. Thesis at the University of Ibadan, Department of Forestry Resources Management in the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, 77pp.

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