The contribution of bamboo to household income and rural livelihoods in a poor and mountainous county in Guangxi, China

N.J Hogarth,B Belcher

doi:10.1505/146554813805927237

Abstract

Despite becoming one of China's fastest expanding and most valuable forest land uses, bamboo's role in livelihoods and rural development is poorly understood. Detailed quantitative data from 240 households were used to study the contribution of bamboo to household income and rural livelihoods in 12 remote and mountainous villages in southern China. Bamboo was a ubiquitous and highly utilised resource for a wide range of subsistence purposes in all households. Bamboo income was predominantly derived from dried bamboo shoots cultivated in small-scale household plots, and was the single most valuable source of cash. The average bamboo income share was 13.3%, ranging from 0 to 50% between villages. High income households had the highest absolute bamboo income, but low income households had the highest dependence on bamboo income. It is suggested that bamboo is an excellent pro poor resource, especially in remote, mountainous areas with limited off-farm income opportunities.

Highlights

3.2% of the world’s total forest area, or 37 million hectares, is made up of bamboos (Bambusoideae), a large subfamily of the grasses (FAO 2007)
The annual and quarterly household surveys were based on the Poverty Environment Network survey instrument (PEN 2007a), and were conducted with household heads, covering the period from mid October 2006 to mid October 2007
Almost 100% of household bamboo income comes from the sale of bamboo shoots that are cultivated in small-scale, household managed forest land that is designated for forest use

Summary

Introduction

3.2% of the world’s total forest area, or 37 million hectares, is made up of bamboos (Bambusoideae), a large subfamily of the grasses (FAO 2007). It is estimated that this unique and iconic component of the world’s forests has over 1200 species (FAO 2007, Ohrnberger 1999), with a natural distribution across a broad range of environments on all continents except Europe and Antarctica (McClure 1966, Ohrnberger 1999). Bamboo’s predominant use for subsistence purposes and production of low value crafts and utensils is shifting to become an industrialised cash commodity, with production of a wide range of high-value products (FAO 2007). Bamboo’s importance as both an internationally traded commodity, and as key resource for livelihood development and poverty alleviation, is increasingly being recognised (FAO 2007)

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Conclusion