The Bamboo Project - From Start to Finish, and Beyond
Uganda’s forests have faced a dire threat over the years, with nearly 3% of its wooded lands, equivalent to 73.6kha, being relentlessly felled for fuel, and agricultural expansion. One such community profoundly impacted by this deforestation crisis is Bulyango Parish, nestled within the Hoima district of Uganda. Here, human activities, including wetland reclamation, extensive deforestation for agriculture and timber, wood fuel consumption, and unsustainable farming practices, have wreaked havoc on the environment.
Our Intervention
As a result of these activities, the chimpanzee population that once thrived in the nearby hills was displaced. Also the once-flowing River Waaki that meandered through the valley is now near drying. The adverse environmental consequences have also taken a toll on smallholder farmers. They are struggling to produce sufficient food due to the degradation of soils and unpredictable shifts in weather patterns.
In response to these challenges, Giving Hope Foundation initiated a comprehensive project in Bulyango Parish, Kitoba sub-county, Hoima district. The project’s primary objective was to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change on smallholder farmers while simultaneously improving their living standards. The goal was to utilize the value of bamboo as a fast-growing, and regenerating grass to build farmers’ resilience to climate change. Additionally, farmers will be able to create extra income sources for themselves. This multifaceted initiative strategically integrated improved agricultural practices with environmental restoration. Thus, it paves the way for future endeavors focused on bamboo value addition to ensure sustainable development. It should be noted that Giving Hope Foundation will establish a community center for training farmers in creating bamboo products, residues that can be used for cooking or made into biochar to improve their soils. But the project was designed around three fundamental areas:
Bamboo Cultivation
This versatile and fast-growing grass, holds significant promise for the project. After a thorough training, farmers will be able to create quality products to sell. Also bamboo is an alternative to wood fuel. Bamboo regerminates, which makes it a sustainable source,and more environmentally friendly and the biochar from bamboo can be used to improve the soil.
Giving Hope Foundation’s project kicked off bamboo cultivation with the distribution of 865 bamboo seedlings in 2022. They were of the Bambusa Vulgaris species, that were planted along the area’s sloping and degraded soils. This will provide a sustainable and eco-friendly alternative to traditional cooking and construction materials.
Gasifier Cooking Stoves
Aiming to reduce wood consumption, the project also began by distributing gasifier cooking stoves. These stoves are important for the farmers who use three stone stoves and lose valuable heat while they cook, and on top of that the smoke fills their kitchens. But gasifier stoves not only cook faster and more efficiently but also emit fewer harmful indoor emissions.
Biochar Production
Recognizing the potential of agricultural waste, the project introduced farmers to the production of biochar from agricultural wastes from various agricultural residues. We have even started a pilot to treat local soils with biochar and urine. For the pilot experiment, farmers produce 59 kilos of biochar from their gardens. This is being used to try maize, beans and ground nuts (peanuts). Biochar, an environmentally friendly soil conditioner, can help soils retain moisture and essential minerals for extended periods. Please see our report on Bamboo, Biochar and Gasifier Stoves here.
The Bamboo Project Journey
The project embarked on its journey in November 2020. Smallholder farmers, organized into Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLAs), were informed in detail about the project’s objectives and the implementation plan. We received funds in October, and the first phase began with the distribution of gasifier stoves. Subsequent phases involved training farmers in biochar production, while bamboo planting was scheduled for March 2021, coinciding with the onset of the rainy season. Farmers have also begun collecting agricultural residues for biochar production, signaling an active engagement with sustainable farming practices.
March 2021
The farmers received training and learnt about opportunities in bamboo growing including direct market demands. For example, bamboo leaves can be fed to animals like rabbits, goats and cows, and can be used as firewood, used in construction among others. They also learnt about the different profitable avenues for bamboo value addition like making crafts, furniture, use in organic fertilisers and decorations. Furthermore, they were practically trained on how to propagate, plant, grow and harvest bamboo. A total of 865 bamboo seedlings were distributed to the farmers, though our target is 1,200. This is what the funds raised could allow for.
April 2022
We achieved a significant milestone. Twenty (20) gasifier stoves were successfully deployed. Farmers received training on how to use the stoves including the advantages of using these stoves. They were shown the benefits of the stoves that indeed they cook faster, emitting little smoke that can endanger their lives and how to harvest charcoal from the firewood used in them. And how biochar could be crushed and buried in the ground to help the soils retain moisture and minerals for long decades. Biochar also helps protect the living organisms in the soil which improves soil fertility as the soils are depleted as a result of poor maintenance.
Farmers along with the Foundation expressed its gratitude to donors by planting 11 Grevillea robusta trees for donations exceeding $100. This was to symbolize the enduring impact of their support on the community and the environment. Please see our report on Bamboo, Biochar and Gasifier Stoves here.
August 2023
Now with the 865 bamboo seedlings steadily growing, the foundation is preparing for the next phase of the project. Our focus will shift toward establishing a community-centered training hub. This hub will impart valuable skills to smallholder farmers, enabling them to create various bamboo products. These will include crafts, furniture, and ornaments, diversifying their income sources and reducing deforestation.
I am very greatful for this project that GivingHope Foundation brought to our community. We are looking forward to stat harvesting and using the bamboo to develop ourselves. Personally, I want to make baskets which I can sell during market days.
Towards value-addition
By 2025, we will have set up a moderate community-based production facility. It will be used to train smallholder farmers in making items like crafts, furniture, and ornaments in order to diversify their incomes, as well as for use in construction as a substitute for trees. Moreover, factory residues will be used for soil amendment as biochar, along with other simple agricultural interventions. Additionally, our bamboo will also be used as a substitute for cooking, therefore reducing deforestation – which is dangerously high in our area of operation.
We extend its heartfelt thanks to all supporters who contributed during challenging times, making these transformative initiatives possible. We look forward to continued collaboration and support. We will work tirelessly to build farmers’ resilience to climate change and enhance their livelihoods while promoting sustainable environmental practices.