…partners French investors on large scale plantation
Cross River to cultivate Bamboo for industrial use
…partners French investors on large scale plantation
By Our Admin
Cross River State Government has disclosed plans to grow Bamboo in the State for industrial use.
The Commissioner for Agriculture in the State, Ntufam Okon Owuna made the disclosure when he led a group of Investors from the French Embassy on a tour of possible sites to identify a proposed site for the Cultivation of bamboos.
Among the places visited in the course of the tour were the General Hospital premises in Calabar, the Toothpick factory premises in Ekori, Hope waddle training institute premises in Calabar, Ageli Dei Day School in Obanliku, and other wild bamboo sites across the 3 Senatorial zones of the State.
He said the preferred site has to be close to a river and so far, 5 hectares of land at the Ayade Farms have been earmarked for the pilot scheme of the project.
One of the French investors Simon Crouzet, a Bamboo Specialists; expressed delight to physically observe that different species of bamboos grow naturally in the wild as natural invaders in Cross River State forest.
Simon Crouzet pointed out that Bamboo farmers will be taught how to identify different species of bamboo; their planting age as stock for vegetative cultivation, methods of planting, and also select the right species suitable for the production of furniture.
He noted that bamboo takes a six(6) months gestation period to grow in the nursery. And the plant has multifarious uses including numerous health benefits to humans, besides the direct consumption of its fresh leafy shoots.
He identified that areas with modest rainfall and sufficient sunlight are crucial for Bamboo cultivation and fortunately Cross River State has that in abundance.
Crouzet also highlighted that six (6) months gestation period is required to grow bamboo in the nursery.
Another investor in the team, Yann Fortunato in his own remarks expressed gratefulness to the Cross River State Government for the opportunity granted them to experience the growth of bamboo in the wild and the environment across the State, adding that Bamboo is typically harvested as a source of material for construction, food, crafts, and other manufactured goods.
The investors expressed their readiness for the cultivation of bamboo as an alternative to Forest wood in Cross River noting that it will be used for the production of furniture for schools, hospitals, besides creating employment opportunities for the teaming youths of the state.