| Bamboo Economy and Ecology
Bamboo and rattan (cane) play a significant role in creation of employment and income generation activities in an ecologically sustainable manner. Worldwide trade in these two commodities is currently estimated at US$14 billion per year. Several millions of people in many parts of Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean depend on these plants for their livelihood and cash income. Changing socio-economic needs and development options have necessitated interventions that would reposition these traditional sectors so as to maximize benefits to the primary producers and processors, who are mostly poor farmers and artisans. |