NewsTraining on bamboo furniture and handicrafts in Kenya
INBAR conducted training on bamboo furniture and handicrafts at the Kenya Model Bamboo Training and Production Center in Busia County.
INBAR, through its Dutch-Sino-East Africa Bamboo Development Programme, in collaboration with Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI) and the bamboo enterprise Eco Green Bamboo conducted training on bamboo furniture and handicrafts at the Kenya Model Bamboo Training and Production Centre in Busia County. The 30 trainees were from Muguga Community Forest Association in Kiambu County, and Kiamakia Forest Association in Murang’a County. The twelve-day training, from 2 May to 3 June 2022, covered the making of bamboo furniture, weaving, and handicrafts, including the importance of bamboo tools and machines, treatment, storing, grading, scrubbing, joinery, polishing, and marketing.
Trainees discover different types of woven baskets
Bamboo value addition skills are critical for bamboo sector development in Kenya, as the country struggles to create jobs; bamboo plays a strategic role in creating opportunities for youth through innovation and creativity that can spur new industry development. Bamboo creates employment in both urban and rural areas, reduces poverty, and improves the living standards of men, women, and youth in the community.
Trainees are taken through bamboo joining concepts during the training on furniture
In his opening remarks, Rutto Chipchumba, the Deputy Commissioner of Busia County, appreciated INBAR and KEFRI for supporting the training as it aligns with the Kenya Vision 2030, Big 4 Agenda. He also welcomed the participants and encouraged them to utilize the opportunity to develop their skills and use them to improve their livelihoods. Mr. Rutto emphasized the creation of formal market outlets for bamboo products and the development of the bamboo cottage industries in different counties.
In his closing remarks, Dr. Selim Reza, Dutch-Sino-East Africa Bamboo Development Programme Manager, appreciated the effort made to ensure the training successfully and reminded the trainees to practice the skills they have acquired to improve their livelihoods. He encouraged trainees to exploit the opportunities to use bamboo to develop the local industries and diversify product lines through innovation and creativity.
Forest resources are experiencing increasing pressure due to the growing world population, emerging lifestyles coupled with the impacts of climate change. The need for alternative options is more apparent than ever. The utilization of bamboo resources by rural communities poses a great potential to tackle rural poverty and unemployment which have increased as populations increased. INBAR, through its bamboo development program in East Africa, strives to develop pro-poor industry and SME value chains in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Uganda through capacity building, enhancing the business and trade environment and sustainably managing bamboo resources in these countries.
Learn more about the Dutch-Sino-East Africa Bamboo Development Programme.
Group photo during training on bamboo furniture, weaving, and handicrafts in Busia County
