(Photo source: Internet)
By Meena Kumari Bhatta
The never-ending political infightings and instability coupled with joblessness and mass unemployment has resulted in a significant number of Nepalese youths seeking employment opportunities abroad as the only viable option. Nepal has had multiple changes in governments and political leadership but little has been done in creating employment opportunities. According to the fourth Nepal Living Standard Survey report published by the National Statistics Office, the unemployment rate has increased to 12.6 percent in the fiscal year 2022-2023.
Nepal’s agriculture sector which is said to be the major driving force of the economy is in tatters and same is the situation of industrial production. Despite abundance of natural resources, we lag behind in terms of modernizing the available resources in a way they would contribute towards poverty alleviation, leading towards rural revitalization and sustainable economic growth. Nepal can learn an important lesson from its northern neighbor on how it can reap benefits from locally available resources transforming them into tools for creating jobs, addressing poverty as well as preserving cultural heritage.
A poor man’s timber
China offers an admirable example of how a country boost rural economy by tapping bamboo enterprises. Also known as ‘poor man’s timber, the widely available natural resource, bamboo, in recent times has become substantial role in helping alleviate poverty, create jobs, and promote environmental sustainability. China’s Sichuan Province is a testimony of the success story bamboo industry. While travelling through the Qingshen County of Meishan city, one can see bamboo forests everywhere from roads to restaurants, households and workplaces. More than two dozen varieties of products ranging from kitchen utensils to bedrooms, offices and restaurants items are made out of bamboo and is exported to 50 plus countries.
China’s southwest Sichuan province has adopted a two-pronged strategy to address unemployment as well as revitalize rural areas by harnessing the economic potential of bamboo, a widely available woody plant. Bamboos have been growing for thousands of years in China. Also, the staple food of giant pandas since ancient times, this local resource is associated with China’s lifestyle and cultural heritage. With this, the ancient ways of using bamboo have founded new life and forms. Bamboo weaving is being transformed from traditional mode to large scale industrial production with collaboration with private and public industries and institutions and has been established as national intangible cultural heritage.
(Photo source: Internet)
Green economy
When countries outside China are grappling with the issue of youth unemployment, China is attracting its young population by offering viable economic opportunities. The industry is engaging returning migrant workers, young farmers and women to cultivate the team of local experts and thus create employment opportunities. The immersion of bamboo in people’s everyday lives and culture has also helped to embark on ‘green and sustainable economy’. According to official data, over 29 million people work in bamboo enterprises across China. There are 10,000 bamboo processing factories with output value of more than 410 billion yuan ($57 billion) recorded in 2023. The output value was 82 billion yuan ($11 billion) in 2010.
In addition to this, the ever spreading China’s bamboo forest has also become a key part of the country’s environmental protection and climate mitigation strategies. The conservation and utilization of bamboo have improved the standard of living for the county’s people. An average person earns 2,000 yuan a month by cultivating bamboo forest, and other bamboo related small scale industries and 15,000 people are working in the bamboo industry in the county. The investment in the bamboo industry has been a part of the China rural revitalization strategy adopted by the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) in 2017. It focuses on rural reconstruction and governance so that those who were lifted out of extreme poverty would not fall into the trap of abject penury.
Nepal can tap bamboo potential to fight poverty
Bamboo is one of the most significant forest species and is widely distributed throughout Nepal. According to the International Bamboo and Rattan Organization, Nepal has an estimated 63,000 ha of bamboo forests, representing around 4.6% of the country’s total area. Nepal has around 53 species of bamboo growing across different parts of the country. Like in China, bamboo in Nepal too has historical, cultural, ecological associations and is used in almost all aspects of life, from cradle to grave. This versatile resource with its fast-growing, self-generating and multipurpose use has great potential for value addition at both domestic and international markets.
Despite this vast availability and huge potential for economic upliftment, the use of bamboo however has been only limited to subsistence of farmers’ livelihood. It is unfortunate that the demand for bamboo in Nepali market is fulfilled through import from its southern and northern neighbors. Data shows that in 2022, Nepal imported nearly five times the value of bamboo products that it exported to China and India.
Investment in bamboo business
The reason why we lag behind in reaping the full benefits of this widely available natural resource is our inability to establish large-scale bamboo plantations, processing plants or invest in high quality research and design. It is high time we invested in modern technology by introducing mechanized tools and techniques for bamboo production. Nepal can develop a long-term national strategy and policy for industrial development of bamboo and also provide incentives to farmers and the private sector to boost investment in bamboo cultivation and weaving. Nepal’s bamboo industry holds significant potential to address unemployment, especially in rural and underdeveloped areas.
By promoting large-scale bamboo cultivation in marginal and fallow land, Nepal can create numerous jobs for local farmers and youths in rural areas. The ripple effect of this could be a decrease in seasonal migration and support to rural economics. Revitalizing Nepal’s bamboo industry could also significantly boost employment, contribute to sustainable development, and enhance Nepal as a leader in eco-friendly production. With adoption of sustainable practices such as incorporating indigenous and traditional knowledge in producing innovative outputs, bamboo can also become a valuable asset for Nepal’s rural revitalization and a nature-based solution for its development and green growth.
(The author is a freelancer.)
