Completed Project: South-South Initiative to Develop an Integrated Bamboo based-development Alternative in Latin America

This project is a market driven initiative based on a market assessment which shows that poor communities which grow bamboo are in potentially strong competitive positions against other global producers. It will support Ecuadorian and Peruvian smallholders to produce bamboo efficiently and competitively in the market by training, field trials and agricultural development. It will also support the public sector at local and national levels to create an enabling environment for bamboo related businesses and farmers through exchange visits, training of officials, and through support to national and local policy development.

Project activities have been completed in the course of 2016 and the project is in the process of formal closure. Five pilot sites in Ecuador and three sites in Peru have been equipped with basic machinery, and in more than 160 workshops nearly 4,000 farmers and small business entrepreneurs were trained in bamboo cultivation, harvesting and processing. 4 platforms were created to promote links between private enterprises and producers. New business ventures are taking shape between member of the platforms, one of them being the Association Rio 7 and GEND Bamboo to export bamboo culms to United States of America. Training and communicational materials were produced and shared with bamboo stakeholder in both countries. A construction manual adapted for Peru and promoted by the Ministry of Housing. A manual for bamboo propagation, plantations and management adapted for Peru and promoted by regional governments of Lambayeque, Piura and Amazonas.

A partnership with the private sector was developed for designing of new bamboo products in each country, and four platforms were established to promote links between private sector processing companies and smallholder bamboo producers. Investment events have been organized and, based on the project experience, the project team has made policy recommendations to the local and central governments. In Ecuador a national bamboo brand has been developed in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture.