Bamboo processing techniques and production of its finished products were presented to 30 upland farmers under the   Integrated Social Forestry   Farmers   Associations   at the recent Bamboo 101: Introduction to Sustainable Bamboo Farming workshop in Barangay Tabunan, Bago City.

The workshop is a project of Negros Occidental provincial government and Provincial Environment Management Office. It aims to promote the importance of bamboo production and management, and sustainable bamboo farming, Luisa Tutor, provincial environment management specialist and upland farmer's coordinator, said yesterday.

Farmers from Bago, Cauayan,Calatrava, Ilog, Sagay, San Carlos, Salvador Benedicto, Talisay, Toboso were taught plantation establishment and species, bamboo farming plantation care, maintenance and protection, plantation development and management and introduction to bamboo utilization, she said.

Bamboo craftsman and farmer Herbert Patrick Teodoro presented to the trainees the essence of bamboo as resource, existing bamboo clump management, culm selection, propagation techniques, nursery establishment and care and bamboo plantation setup and care and cash crop intercrops.

Tutor said the farmers were inspired to create bamboo designs when they saw the products from Provincial Economic Development and Investment Center.

Farmers Francisco Aplicyse of Cauayan and Raymondo Juarez of Toboso, said they are very thankful for the program that could help them generate more income for their families and are looking forward for more projects in the future.

Tutor said that, apart from the training, the farmers will also be prioritized for the on-the-job training at a bamboo nursery at Panaad village.*KDP

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