This archive report was first published on 17 September 2019.
Environment Cabinet Secretary Keriako Tobiko will preside over the 10th World Bamboo Day at Busia Agricultural Training Center on Wednesday, September 18, 2009. The event aims to increase awareness of the significance of bamboo plants globally, whose utilisation has not been sustainable due to exploitation.
The theme for the celebration is "Harnessing Bamboo Potential for Climate Resilient Communities & Green Businesses," as tweeted by the Ministry of Environment.
World Bamboo Day was first celebrated on September 18, 2009, in Bangkok, Thailand, during the 8th World Bamboo Congress. The inception aimed at increasing the awareness of bamboo globally.
Bamboo farming has gained popularity in China and the US, where it is mainly grown for medicinal, ornamental purposes, and feeding of pandas.
In Kenya, bamboo farming is taking place in various parts of the country, with potential demand from construction and textile companies, landscapers, and beer manufacturers. The plant is mainly grown in the Aberdares Range, Mau forest, Mount Kenya, Mount Elgon, and Cherangany Hills.
According to the Kenya Forestry Research Institute, the land area under bamboo had shrunk from 300,000 hectares initially to about 133,273 hectares today, resulting in the obscure productivity of the plant in Kenya.
The "Bamboo Policy 2019" aims to develop a vibrant bamboo industry in Kenya, benefiting the present and future generations through sustainable management, enabling commercialisation, and value-addition.
