An international conference on Ethiopia’s bamboo would be held in Addis Ababa on November 5, 2014, according to the Ministry of Agriculture.
The conference is jointly organized by the Chinese based International Network for Bamboo and Rattan and Ministry of Agriculture.
In a press briefing he gave today, Sustainable Land Holding Program Advisor with Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), Melaku Tadesse, told journalists that the rich bamboo resource of the country and its stability were the factors that enabled the country to be selected for the conference.
The conference will discuss the policy contents of International Network for Bamboo and Rattan, the role of the private sector in green bamboo development, and the role bamboo plays in basin development.
Although Ethiopia would be handing over its chairmanship at the conference, it would remain a board member as the country makes huge contribution to bamboo development, he said.
Participants of the conference will on November 6, 2014 visit the Africa Bamboo Training and Workshop located at Gefersa locality in Oromia region, it was indicated. A center is going to be established at the sight, according to the advisor.
The center will help participants that come from other African countries for short and long term training exchange experience and establish market network, it was pointed out.
Besides they will be encouraged to produce new products by using their creativity, and favorable situation would be created to make the products available to both local and foreign markets, Melaku stated.
Country Representative for International Network for Bamboo and Rattan, Tesfaye Hunde, on his part said the government is introducing and expanding new technology and sharing the experience of countries that benefit from bamboo to effectively utilize the bamboo resource in the country.
Bamboo plays huge role in consolidating sustainable land utilization and activities that help ensure food security, he added. It would also help improve the livelihood of those engaged in the industry.
Ethiopia has bamboo plantation that covers 1 million hectare, which is 65 percent of the total bamboo plantation in Africa.
[ENA]