– The valorization of bamboo
INBAR (International Network for Bamboo and Rattan) and PROSPERER (Support Program for Rural Clusters and Micro-Enterprises and Regional Economies in Madagascar) are working to create a genuine sector by 2022.
Bamboo has the potential to contribute to poverty reduction, youth employment, and environmental protection for millions of disadvantaged rural communities and smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa, in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Madagascar has the largest variety of bamboo in the world, with nearly 40 species, 35 of which are endemic. Bamboo is used in various sectors such as textiles, the paper industry, handicrafts, construction, biomass energy production, cosmetics, and the food industry.
With deforestation being the number one environmental problem on the Big Island, 100 hectares of bamboo were planted in Andringitra in March 2019 in the Ambohidratrimo district. This project was led by the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries (MAEP) through the PROSPERER Program in collaboration with the Ministry of the Environment and Sustainable Development (MED) and the International Network for Bamboo and Rattan (INBAR). Eight other regions, including Analamanga, are now benefiting from this project, whose overall objective is to improve the incomes, livelihoods, and climate change adaptation capacities of Malagasy smallholder farmers, women, and youth, while strengthening the use of climate-friendly bamboo value chains.