Talks To Establish Bamboo Centre Here

The Ministry of Forestry is in talks with its partners to establish a Bamboo Centre in Fiji to help develop the bamboo industry in the Pacific.

When established, the centre, which is estimated to cost US$2 million (FJ$4.06m), will be based at the ministry’s facility in Nasinu.

According to Minister for Forestry Osea Naiqamu, bamboo and rattan are among the world’s most valuable non-timber forest products with an estimated market value of FJ$120 billion.

In 2017, the total import and export value of bamboo and rattan products for Fiji amounted to US$397,925 (FJ$808,643.29) of which imports occupied over 99 per cent.

“The Fiji Bamboo Centre will serve as a national focal point for bamboo related activities, including scientific research, mapping of bamboo habitats, advocacy work, research in innovative applications such as paper making and cloth making for example, training in propagation and also in the skills required in its many applications, and establishing policy that is conducive to the growth of the industry,” Mr Naiqamu said.

He also stated that bamboo and rattan have the potential to contribute more to Fiji’s economic development and the intent is to support interested persons or communities to effectively develop their resources, including investments in appropriate technologies.

Fiji became a member of the International Bamboo and Rattan Organisation (INBAR) on September 1, 2020, following cabinet’s approval to explore the benefits of bamboo as an ecologically conducive high value, short rotation crop.

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