THE Negros Occidental Provincial Enterprise Development and Investment Center (Pedic) has targeted to produce and distribute at least 12,000 bamboo propagules every year as one of the measures to increase local bamboo production.
Engr. Jose Maria Amugod, provincial project development officer III, said the Provincial Government has fully planted 3,000 propagules at the Capitol-run nursery in Barangay Tabunan, Bago City, in September.
Amugod said that starting March next year, the province can release about 6,000 bamboo propagules from those initially planted.
The plantation is also expected to produce another 6,000 propagules after six months, from April to September, he added.
“Under our Bamboo Industry Development Program, we intend to increase the bamboo production in the province,” Amugod said, adding that they target to distribute the first batch of 6,000 planting materials to potential farmers and farm owners during the Panaad sa Negros Festival in April.
Former governor Rafael Coscolluela, provincial consultant on investment promotions, trade and export development and inter-agency coordination, earlier said the province is working on putting together and setting up the entire value chain from plantation to processing, treatment, product development, and marketing.
Coscolluela pointed out that developing the whole industry should start in addressing issues on the availability of raw materials.
Pedic records showed that currently, there are approximately 800,000 bamboos sporadically planted in the province. The number is much lower than the millions in Panay Island, particularly Iloilo province, it added.
Aside from addressing the need to increase the production, the Provincial Government also eyed to increase the number of bamboo species grown at the nursery.
Amugod said that from the existing 12, they target to plant 37 additional species, which will serve as raw materials for specific usage whether for furniture, house construction, handicraft, and landscaping, among others.
“Bamboo is one of the potential commodities of the province, and an industry positioned to greatly impact the local economy by bringing millions in revenues and thousands of employment,” he added.
