The wondrous bamboo

By Monica Soila

Bamboo is regarded as the strongest and fastest growing wood plant in the world. It matures in 3-4 years unlike other hard wood trees which takes up to 40 years or more; it also has 1,500 record uses. There are about 1,250 or more species globally and 18 in Kenya.

 

some bamboo products

Bamboo which is a renewable resource has huge potentiality. The important usages are mainly in paper industry, building material, cottage industries, handicrafts, medicinal products, edible shoots and new generation products such as wood substitutes, truck bodies, railway carriages, bamboo boards, tiles etc. 

Bamboo tea and bamboo extracted silica are becoming increasingly popular. Silica is an essential substance for maintaining the integrity and health of the skin, ligaments, tendons and bones. Bamboo contains 70% organic silica.

 

Seedlings in the nursery at Kitil farm

Kitil Farm is a licensed open quarantine which operates in Isinya; where high quality bamboo seedlings are grown and sold. The farm is five kilometers from Isinya town, driving past the Isinya Health Centre, it is found on the right.

The following species of bamboo  are found at Kitil Farm: O. Abyssinica (giant and solid stemmed bamboo, Bambusa textilis or longinternode, Phyllostachys pubescens(moso), Dendrocalamus membranaceus cv grandis (a giant clumping bamboo), Dendrocalamus maximuslamina (a giant clumping bamboo and giant leaf), Dendrocalamus giganteus (a giant clumping bamboo), 

Dendrocalamus asper (a giant clumping bamboo), Dendrocalamus barbartus (a giant clumping bamboo), Dendrocalamus giganteus (a giant clumping bamboo).

 

Bamboo trees at Kitil farm

Other important activities such as training for individual investors and/or groups on all aspects of bamboo care, bamboo management, harvesting and associated technologies; are also conducted at Kitil farm. This is a sound business venture; you might want to try it!