Prospects for Multi-Functional Utilisation of Bamboo in Nigeria

Abstract

The industrial utilisation of bamboo is expanding globally as a result of its role in climate change mitigation, adaptation and development.  Bamboo has more than 1,500 industrial applications and the uses are expaanding. In Nigeria, the prospects for multi-functional utilisation is high and increasing as a result of  the high dependence on importation of raw materials and the serious ecological and land degradation taking place in most parts of the country. Bamboo will find ready use in the wood and wood products sector of the economy as Nigeria currently depends on importation of plywood, particleboard and more recently  seasoned planks.  In the textile industry the low cotton production and productivity will encourage industrial textiles production from bamboo while the near total dependence on imported long fibre pulp will promote bamboo utilisation in the pulp and paper industry.  Bamboo utilisation in housing construction is likely to look up as a result of the current housing problems in both urban and rural areas and the high level of development in engineered bamboo production globally.  In Nigeria, bamboo utilisation will increse significantly in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries with adequate promotion of investment in these sectors. In line with the plans of international communities, thedevelopment and use of bamboo briquettes in place of firewood and wood briquettes coupled with establishment of bamboo plantations on degraded lands will significantly promote production and multifunctional utilisation of bamboo locally.

Keywords: pharmaceuticals, bamboo, textiles, charcoal, environmental conservation.