The prolonged drought affecting over 80 districts in the country has led to meager harvests, and Nyimba District in the Eastern Province is among the hardest hit.
As residents struggle to make ends meet amidst this climate crisis, hope for a sustainable livelihood has emerged.
Beyond the relief food distributed by the government and various non-governmental organizations (NGOs), some residents have turned to the bamboo business to sustain themselves.
Locally known as ‘asasu,’ bamboo grass is abundant in the district, and residents are selling it to earn a living.In the past, only a few inhabitants ventured into the bamboo business.
However, the arrival of the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR-ICRAF) through its Zambia for Agroforestry, Biodiversity, and Climate program (Z4ABC) has changed this.
More residents are now dedicating their time to selling bamboo grass.Z4ABC is a four-year project funded by the European Union’s DeSIRA initiative.
The project, led by CIFOR, is implemented in partnership with the Government of the Republic of Zambia and three Finnish research institutions: the Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), the Vikki Tropical Resources Institute (VITRI) at the University of Helsinki, and Häme University of Applied Sciences.
The Z4ABC action will be implemented in the Lower Zambezi – Luangwa – Nyika (ZLN) Corridor in Zambia, targeting Lusaka Province, Eastern Province, and Muchinga Province.
Bamboo can be used to create high-value items such as office chairs, tables, stools, and even small houses. For many years, these products were made using traditional tools and were of poor quality.
CIFOR-ICRAF has stepped in to improve the skills of the people.
Last December, the organization launched a bamboo nursery project funded by the European Union (EU) to ensure that residents do not continue causing deforestation but learn to grow ‘asasu’ in their respective homes.
This year, in collaboration with the International Bamboo and Rattan Organisation (INBAR) and other partners, CIFOR-ICRAF has taken a further step to build capacity among the members of the Vizimumba Information Center.
Twenty people, including ten men and ten women, were trained to enhance their bamboo production skills.
The trainees are enthusiastic about fully venturing into the business and are ready to share their knowledge to enhance productivity.
Donald Kibhuti, the master trainer, emphasizes that the training aims to improve the skills of local people who have long lacked professional training.
“We have trained them on how to make bamboo office chairs, tables, stools, and how to weave,” Kibhuti explains.
Wellington Chazya, the pilot landscape coordinator from CIFOR-ICRAF, adds that the training includes learning how to use modern carpentry tools, unlike the traditional ones the trainees have been accustomed to.
Mr Chazya is confident that the trainees will produce high-quality bamboo products.
Elvis Phiri, one of the trainees, expresses gratitude for the initiative, adding that the training has equipped them with cost-effective skills.
He is optimistic that their bamboo products will attract both local and international markets.
“With this knowledge, we want to start making handicrafts different from what we used to make before.
For example, we used to buy fasteners to attach our furniture, but now we have learned that we can use glue and bamboo, which will help us save money,” Mr Phiri says.
Mary Mbewe, a member of the Vizimumba Information Center, is confident that her newfound skills will enable her to provide for her family.
She notes that before CIFOR-ICRAF enhanced the business, it was male-dominated and relied on traditional, labor-intensive methods.
Josphat Daka, the chairperson of the Vizimumba Information Center, highlights how people are exchanging asasu for sunflower and maize to feed their families.
He emphasizes that bamboo has helped communities raise money for school fees and other bills.
Nyimba District Administration Officer, Mr. Geofrey Mumba, underscores that the government is pleased with the initiative by CIFOR-ICRAF.
He notes that it supplements government efforts to ensure families survive despite the drought.
Mr. Mumba commends all cooperating partners, including the European Union, stating that the bamboo value chain is a commendable move.
He believes that teaching locals how to make quality bamboo products will increase productivity.
“This project came at a time when we needed it for the people to survive,” he says.
This article was co-authored by Sarah Mbewe