It is time to empower bamboo industries

This celebration was initiated during the 8th World Bamboo Congress held in Prachinburi, Bangkok. World Bamboo Day is an important day for all of us to increase the awareness of bamboo and to bring bamboo benefits to a greater height in environment, economics and community.

This year, Malaysia celebrated its 10th WBD on 20 September 2021. The first WBD was celebrated in Kuala Lumpur in 2012. In commemorating the spirit of WBD2021, Malaysian Timber Industry Board (MTIB), the main organiser of the event, hosting World Bamboo Day Malaysia 2021.

In conjunction with the WBD celebration, many programmes were organised by MTIB involving the community throughout the month of September which includes virtual run, colouring competition, bamboo planting and webinar series.

The opening ceremony of WBD Malaysia 2021 and the launching of Pelan Tindakan Pembangunan Industri Buluh Negara 2021-2030 or the National Bamboo Industry Development Action Plan 2021-2030 was officiated by the honourable Mahpar Atan, Director General of MTIB.

In Malaysia, MTIB has taken the lead in developing and empowering the bamboo industries. Realising the potential of bamboo in generating national income, Pelan Tindakan Pembangunan Industri Buluh Negara 2021-2030 was initiated to sustain the bamboo resources, to plant bamboo, to empower the human capital, to promote research and development and to lead in marketing and promotion of bamboo products.

In addition, bamboo seminars, business conferences and workshops were successfully carried out as a platform for networking, to disseminate findings and research outputs; and to create awareness to the public of what bamboo can provide. MTIB also works in tandem with other government agencies and non governmental organisations in driving the national bamboo agenda.

Forest Research institute Malaysia (FRIM) is a significant bamboo industry driver. Ever since its establishment in 1929, FRIM has been championing the forest and involved in bamboo research since 1983.

FRIM also initiates bamboo plantations in collaboration with other agencies in efforts to accommodate the bamboo poles demand to supply for the wood based industry. Now FRIM offers expertise in bamboo species identification, breeding, plantation, utilisation and disease, to list a few.

Statistics showed that Malaysia bamboo product export was USD 2.4 million (MTIB, 2018). Comparing this with the global market of USD 68.8 billion in 2018, with China exporting USD 5.5 billion, we are still behind in the world map, but it is not too late to move forward.

Based on trade performance summary from January to July 2021 (MTIB, 2021), Malaysia is exporting USD 180 million) of non major wood based products which falls under ‘other products’, but bamboo products export is not clearly stated in the 2021 summary.

Malaysia is capable of earning exports of USD 50-300 million between 2025-2050, looking at the current capacity to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, SDG’s. Malaysia has approximately 70 species of bamboo in which 50% are found in Peninsular Malaysia, 30% in Sabah and 20% in Sarawak.

With a variety of species, plus a suitable climate and soil for bamboo plantation in Malaysia, we can earn more if bamboo is upgraded into a commodity comparable to Oil Palm, Rubber, Timber, Pepper, Kenaf and Cocoa. Perhaps large plantation companies such as Sime Darby, IOI and Genting should grasp the opportunity in planting bamboo. Bamboo should not be neglected in any way if we realise the potential in balancing the ecosystem, generating the economy and contributing to the livelihood of the rural community.

Products and services including resorts, textile, food, charcoal, laminated board, furniture, crafts, seed & plantation can be further economically enhanced. The people, industry and government should work together and it is imperative for the decision maker to apply an integrative and multidimensional strategic approach to leverage the bamboo industry in Malaysia.

Bamboo eco-tourisms, food, textile and craft are niche areas to be focused as an integrated project so that all stakeholders can benefit from its establishment. The government, the community, the leading industries can take part in realising this multidimensional approach.

Connotation of bamboo as poor man’s timber is no longer suitable since bamboo is now becoming a ‘green gold’. Bamboo is resilient and flexible with thousands of uses and benefits.

Bamboo produces 35% more oxygen and absorbs 40% more carbon dioxide than trees, thus becoming a carbon-sink itself, controlling soil erosion, restoring degraded land, conserving biodiversity, and contributing to the purification and regulation of the environment. Bamboo is an amazing plant and we have yet to fully grasp and avail of its full potential.

But do we have enough bamboo resources for this purpose?

Let us work with bamboo wisely in a sustainable manner for the environment, economy and community. The industry can only be sustained if the environment and the people are taken care of.

Above all, bamboo shoots that grow are capable of combating climate change and act as a “green environmental protector”. May this slogan be embedded in our heart all the time.

Let us commemorate the World Bamboo Day 2021 as a way forward to sustain the economy, the people and the environment.

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* Dr Siti Rafedah Abdul Karim is the Vice President Malaysian Bamboo Society and TS Azrena Abdul Karim is a Senior Lecturer, Eco-Technology Programme, Faculty Of Applied Sciences Universiti Teknologi MARA