Kuching: Bamboo, long associated with Sarawak's traditional way of life, has the potential to emerge as a new economic resource through value-added products such as food items, furniture, and biomass materials. Sarawak Timber Industry Development Corporation (Pusaka) general manager Datuk Zainal Abidin Abdullah emphasized the agency's initiative to involve communities in bamboo cultivation, particularly targeting landowners with unused or idle land.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Pusaka is poised to offer assistance to landowners, contingent upon their consent and approval, to conduct site assessments for suitability and provide necessary guidance. As an initial measure, Pusaka plans to distribute 400 bamboo seedlings free of charge, adequate for planting on one hectare of land.
Zainal noted that once the bamboo matures, it would be harvested and processed by downstream industry players based on the products they aim to produce. This initiative enables landowners to put idle land to use and creates new income opportunities through the bamboo industry value chain.
Pusaka, in collaboration with the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI), is exploring various bamboo-based products, including flour made from bamboo shoots for cakes and pastries. However, commercialization is pending due to the current insufficient supply of bamboo shoots, necessitating a consistent supply before advancing. Additionally, bamboo species like buluh betung, with high fibre content, show potential for biomass pellet production for energy generation.
To evaluate bamboo's potential, a 50-hectare pilot bamboo plantation has been established at the Sabal Forest Reserve in Simunjan, with 22 bamboo species planted, including varieties from China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Thailand, and Indonesia. Pusaka has also identified potential areas for large-scale bamboo cultivation, including forest plantations in Bintulu and Miri, which could support over 20,000 hectares of planting.
Sarawak aims to develop 30,000 hectares of commercial and community-based bamboo plantations statewide by 2030. Pusaka's efforts are geared towards diversifying Sarawak's economy beyond the timber industry, positioning bamboo as a key contributor and alternative resource to timber, while developing downstream industries capable of generating higher economic value.
To further promote the bamboo industry's potential, Pusaka will organize Sarawak Bamboo Day from September 18 to 20, providing a platform for industry players, higher learning institutions, researchers, and communities to explore opportunities in the sector.