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Development and commoditization of

pre-fabricated modular bamboo housesin Asia and Africa

SUMMARY

BACKGROUND & RATIONALE

Bamboo is one of the fastest growing grass species which globally has enormous potential for

income generation by contributing to environmental sustainability. Researches have indicated that

Bamboo could largely replace timber uses in the construction sector. The experiences of theINBAR/TNC project revealed that a 30 square meter bamboo house would save about 10 cubic

meter of timber. In more general terms: building one small two-room house with bamboo rather

than wood could already save at least one big mature tree.

In Nepal forest is the most valuable natural resource which covers 5.8 million hectare (i.e. 39.6%

of the total land area of Nepal). Forestry sector is contributing 27.6% in the GDP (DFRS, 2007),out of which 9.5% tangibly contributes to direct income and 18.1% is intangible contributes toresource uses. Revenue generated from forest sector was 5.4 million in 2000 and 3 million in

2006.

The programme seeks to strengthen bamboo industries by establishing viable bamboo supplychain and commercially linking with existing bamboo industries. This approach will promotecommercialization of bamboo by ensuring social, economic and environmental benefits for local

communities, especially poor, women and disadvantaged groups and other supply chain actors.

The programme will enhance the capacities of existing bamboo industries to produce and

promote pre-fabricated bamboo housing and construction materials and to market them throughvarious promotional activities. The programme will directly involve the local poor bamboo

growers and communities in the production chain by establishing community based pre-processing centres and linking it with thousands of bamboo farmers for increased and regularincome.

Objective 1: Establishment and strengthening capacity of community based bamboo pre-processing centers.

Objective 2: Build and enhance the capacities of bamboo industries to produce and

commercialize pre-fabricated bamboo housing and building materials.

Objective 3: Market development for pre-fabricated modular bamboo housing and buildingmaterials.

The programme has started in 2010 and will continue till 2014


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Nepals Three Year Interim Plan (TYIP) foresees the crucial role of forest in development. A widerange of forest-related policy documents of Nepal are aimed to:

develop internal market and promote exports Generate employment by promoting forestry, non timber forest products and forest-based

industry.

ensure regular supply of forest-based products by long term management of aquatic andgeographical diversity.

In Nepal, bamboo is one of the major contributors after timber with in forestry sector. It is

estimated that the stock of bamboo in Nepal is around 15 million cubic metres with anapproximate biomass value of 1060 metric tons. The total area coverage under bamboo isestimated to be around 63,000 hectors (630 square km). It is estimated that over 300,000 HHs

are somehow involved in bamboo based livelihood activities in Nepal. Annual production ofbamboo culms is estimated at over 3.01 million. Resource data shows that 44 million bambooculms can be harvested in the coming three years. These data indicate that Nepal has significant

resource base however, this resource has not been managed and exploited sufficiently. The

current National Non Timber Forest Product Policy (NTFP) has ignored to address and incorporatebamboo as one of high potential commodity for local economic development.

In Nepal, most of the bamboo growers live in the rural areas. They earn minimum income out ofbamboo related activities which only helps them for their basic subsistence. Despite, highpotential for growth, this value chain is hindered by several factors such as most of the bamboo

farmers are scattered and operate at small scale in isolation. They lack the capacity for

investments and technical know how on collection, harvesting, cultivation, most specifically inadding value to the product. Due to this, their engagement in the chain is limited and they do not

have the option to sell bamboo culms on higher volume and prices, beside selling it in raw form ormaking low value product such baskets, fodder, weaving materials, fencing and roofing mainly for

domestic purposes.

Unlike timber based industries, bamboo industries lack knowledge and technical know-how on

updated production and processing technology, knowledge on different national and internationalmarket segments, consumer preferences and its export constraints. Thus, resulting in nominal

contribution in the sector.

Using bamboo as industrial product is a new concept for Nepal. Therefore, in February 2009 AEC)

signed an agreement of USD 1.2 million project contract with International Centre for Bamboo andRattan (ICBR) for the implementation of a project titled Development and Commoditization of the

Pre fabricated Modular Bamboo Housing in Asia and Africa with an objective of establishing viable

community based supply chain and by upgrading existing bamboo industries and establishing and

linking these industries with bamboo pre-processing centres. For smooth operation of the project

AEC signed a separate MOU with SNV to provide technical and other required services in thissector to AEC. SNV will assist and build capacity of AEC/ FNCCI to successfully implement and

upscale this project. It is expected that this project will increase production, income andemployment benefiting approximately 10,000 bamboo growers/farmers. Development andcommercial linkages with industries and pre-processing centers will provide employment

opportunities to approximately 600 poor individuals in the production and pre-processingactivities.

The goal of the programme is to strengthen bamboo industry in Nepal by establishing

commercially viable supply chain for the bamboo Industries in Nepal.


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The objective of the programme is to support the establishment of commercially viable supplychains for existing bamboo industries in Nepal by establishing community owned and managed

bamboo pre-processing centers and linking these centers with poor bamboo growers and farmers.

The following outcomes are expected from the programme.

Upgraded bamboo industries in Nepal producing competitive pre-fabricated bamboohousing and construction materials

Commercial linkage between three pre-processing centers and bamboo growers/ farmersof 10 bamboo districts.

Technicians available for operation of pre-processing centers. Public private partnership developed for investment in establishing pre-processing centers

for commercial operation.

Commercial supply of industrial semi finished raw material to bamboo industries. Skills of a minimum of 350 lead bamboo farmers enhanced in sustainable harvesting and

resource management practices of 10 bamboo districts.

50 local level resource persons developed for outreaching 10,000 bamboo farmers. Supply chain strengthened for regular consistent and reliable supply of raw materials along

the supply chain.

Additionally the programme is designed to have a wide range of socio-economic and

environmental impacts both at the local and global level.

At local level, the programme would directly benefit to poor by providing affordablehousing option that who currently are not able to afford concrete building. It would alsoprovide direct employment to over 600 poor people at the industry and pre-processinglevel. Over 10000 bamboo growers and farmers will directly benefit by selling additional

bamboo culms to the centers.

At national level, the project would directly contribute to the national economy by reducingthe total imports of building materials and by reducing pressure on natural forest.

At international level, it would promote environmentally friendly option for the buildingmaterial and carbon sequestration.

DESIGN & IMPLEMENTATION PLAN

The programme is to design to be implemented by applying inclusive business approach, wherethe entry point is by working with established bamboo industries. The industries has its

established forward linkages and the programme will assist these industries in establishing andpromoting the private sector community based enterprises by involving bamboo growers/ farmersto perform activities related to supply side. This will be done by establishing community based/owned bamboo pre-processing centres and formally linking these centres with bamboo

industries.

Bamboo growers/ farmers will be suppliers of bamboo culms in bulk to these pre-processing

centres. The bamboo growers/ farmers will also be involved in pre-processing activities i.e.

weavers of required bamboo mats.

In addition, a buyback guarantee for purchase of raw bamboo culms will be made between thepre-processing centres and bamboo farmers assuring them regular income. Buyback contracts


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between bamboo industries and community based pre-processing centres for semi processedbamboo (mats and curtains) will help in meeting the requirement of the industries in a regular

basis. This is ultimately expected to strengthen the supply chain of existing bamboo industries

resulting into production of affordable products.

The programme will have the following major components:

Component 1:

Build and enhance the capacities of bamboo industries to produce and commercialize pre-

fabricated bamboo housing materials through efficient and effective technology. The following

major activities will be carried out:

Research on the enhancement of the production technology of bamboo beams /lumbers tomake it efficient and cost effective.

Testing of bamboo species of programme countries for its physical and mechanicalcharacteristics.

Build capacities of various designers through cross exchange designing programmes andtrainings so that designs are appropriate for different market segments.

Upgrade bamboo industries with efficient and appropriate technology to produce endmarket quality and affordable housing materials.

Establish universal testing facilities of the bamboo products (beams and panels)Component 2:

Establishment of community based bamboo pre-processing centers: To strengthen the

bamboo supply chain of the bamboo industries, the programme will focus on establishingcommunity based pre-processing centres. In order to implement this component, followingmajor activities will be undertaken:

Appropriate sites and investment modalities will be identifies and designed. Modern tools, machinery and equipments will be brought for the bamboo pre-processing

canters.

Appropriate trainings will be designed and provided to the communities /individuals onhandling and operation of machines and tools on bamboo pre-processing.

Trainings on appropriate resource management, collection, harvesting practices andtechniques will be conducted to enhance the skills of the growers and farmers so that they

will be able to supply quality and regular quantity of raw materials. A buy back contractual agreement will be made between bamboo industries and pre- -

processing centres and between bamboo growers and pre-processing centres.

Component 3:

Market development for pre-fabricated modular bamboo housing and building materials.Following major activities will be performed:

Sample bamboo modular houses will be constructed by the bamboo industries in differentplaces to promote the concept of modular bamboo house and importance of bamboo use in

building materials.

National codes and standards on bamboo housing will be made based on various testsresults.

Conduct national and international workshops and seminars regarding bamboo housing forpromotional activities.

Documentary on bamboo housing especially aiming to promote bamboo constructionmaterials for the rural communities and different market segments will be made.


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National and export markets will be explored for the marketing of end product.

CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTORS

Sector analysis reveals big potential and economic benefits from the development of bamboo

panel based housing and other building materials, but some critical success factors do exist.

People believe that bamboo is a poor mens timber and living in a bamboo house is a social

stigma although bamboo has been proved to be a suitable building material. Such kind of imageof bamboo has significantly retarded the potential market of bamboo housing and constructionmaterials. Therefore, bamboo has to be used not only for low cost housing but also for high end

structures with improved engineering designs so as to raise its image and to change peoples

perception.

International codes for the bamboo building has been proved by ISO. However, due to lack ofnational codes of bamboo building in many countries including Nepal, it is difficult to buildbamboo houses with raw bamboo. Although bamboo has been used as a construction material in

many countries, they are used as a non structural material and as a temporary housing.

Existing market of the panel based bamboo housing is a new concept. Starting the new market

for the panel based bamboo housing may take sometime until it receives trust from the users.

Industries lack sufficient knowledge of market and its constraints. Unclear non timber forestproduct policy could limit the growth of the sector and its upscaling.

The popularity of timber based products and houses in the existing market could be a challengefor the bamboo housing and construction materials. However, considering the current scenario,decreasing timber resources and high market price, bamboo has huge potential to substitute

timber in the long run.

Identification of exports market and knowledge to handle and tackle exports constraints for the

end product would help promote the sector. Favourable policy to integrate bamboo as one of the

high potential commodities in the national NTFP policy would help the industries to attract

additional investment in the sector.

Despite various critical success factors, there is a great opportunity to promote bamboo for the

construction of modular houses and building materials for different market segments. Most of thedisadvantages of natural bamboo would naturally be mitigated once the bamboo is processed and

the supply chain is strengthened.

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Bamboo _ Website(1)