Recent Advances in Bamboo Research, Product Development and Utilisation in Nigeria

Abstract

Bamboos are available in all the thirty-six States of the Nigerian Federation, the most common species being Bambusa vulgaris. Bamboos are traditionally used for scaffolding in building construction, fencing, staking in farms, handicraft and furniture production, and cooking. Research and development advances in Nigerian universities and research centres in the last twenty years have, however, promoted modern forms of bamboo utilisation in various ways. These include documentation of various properties of locally grown bamboos, development of machines and equipment for bamboo processing, as well as development of modern bamboo products. A few bamboo processing factories have also sprung up in recent years. However, enterprises based on modern bamboo processing techniques are still not common in the country. This Chapter presents a review of the progress made thus far in bamboo processing and product development in Nigeria, discusses the prospects of, and constraints to commercialization of locally developed modern bamboo products, and highlights the way forward.