The queen mother of the Mampong Traditional Area, Nana Agyakuma Difie II, has urged all queen mothers across the country to collaborate in efforts to help realise government’s agenda of establishing over 500,000 hectares of bamboo plantations between 2015-2040.
The Mamponghemaa made the call when the Asanteman queen mothers embarked on a field trip to the Bamboo Common Production and Training Centre at Obogu in the Ashanti Region.
It was organised by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, in collaboration with the Forest Plantation Fund Board, as part of a two-day sensitization workshop for Asanteman queen mothers on ‘Bamboo and Rattan Plantation Development’.
She stressed the need for the queen mothers to rally behind the project, saying “this is obviously lucrative as it would not take much to plant and cultivate, but will give off so much from the sale and production”.
Reforestation
She believes that the project will also go long way to help respective communities, as well as contribute to government’s reforestation agenda, which ties into the bigger picture of helping mitigate climate change.
The Mamponghemaa could not hide her bewilderment and excitement over the number of beautiful artifacts the Bamboo plant can produce. She was particularly excited about the toothpicks and the Kebab sticks they can make.
After a tour of the facility, the queen mother was certain that the perception of all the Asanteman queen mothers about bamboo had changed for the better.
She expressed the hope that as they returned to their various traditional areas, they would spread the good news for all to know.
On behalf of the Ashanteman queen mothers, Nana Difie II expressed gratitude to the Ministry and the Forest Plantation Fund Board for organising such an informative and educative workshop which had challenged them to embark on this journey.
She pledged the Asanteman queen mothers’ full commitment, and assured the Ministry that they would marshal all efforts to ensure the success of the project.
Appeal
For his part, the General Instructor at the Bamboo Common Production and Training Centre and President of Ghana National Bamboo and Rattan Association, George Sarpong, called on government for support to help boost the production of bamboo and bamboo artifacts in commercial quantities.
Mr Sarpong took the queen mothers through the processes of producing some of the artifacts from bamboo, including toothpick, Kebab sticks, cups, among others.
He also led the queen mothers to see a bamboo plantation, where he showed and explained the types of bamboos, their uses and commercial value.
Bamboo is a very fast growing, renewable and easy-to-grow resource. It is an extremely versatile material with over 1,500 uses, including construction, clothes, food and fuel.
The plant has over 1000 species. It grows in both tropical and temperate environments, and is very hard, and does not need pesticides or herbicides to grow well.
