DENR identifies Maasin, Iloilo as techno-demo area for bamboo processing
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has identified the Municipality of Maasin in Iloilo as techno-demo area for bamboo processing as one way to boost the bamboo industry and to be able to cope with the increasing demand for the product.
This was disclosed by DENR Undersecretary Edgardo C. Manda during the opening of the Bamboo Market Week held Monday afternoon at the activity center of the SM City here.
Manda said the DENR will provide the necessary training to farmers within the existing bamboo farms in Maasin starting January next year.
Manda said together with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Rotary Club and the Office of Board Member Mariano Malones, who was once the mayor of Maasin, they will extend fund support for the training.
"What is important here is information and education. This will increase their productivity and increase their income," he said.
Manda said with various high end products that can be produced out of bamboos, the farmers can increase their earning from P20,000 to P100,000 annually for every hectare.
He added that farmers will also be assisted as far as their market access is concerned.
"We have a supply problem of bamboo poles, there is a shortage," he said.
Manda mentioned that annually, the shortage of bamboo poles is about a million.
Board Member Malones disclosed that some 10 hectares of bamboo plantation in Maasin will be used as a demo farm.
At present, more than 1,500 hectares of the watershed area in Maasin have been planted with bamboo.
The total area of bamboo plantation in Maasin is about 4,000 hectares including private lands. (PNA)