TIRIKI BAMBOO VALUE CHAIN CENTRE

TIRIKI TROPICAL GARDENS AND FARM, BAMBOO VALUE CHAIN WAS FOUNDED IN 2007 by Victor Mwanga and Florence Awino. You will wonder Why Bamboo. To us, Bamboo is a wonder plant by all accounts. It's many uses include erosion control, watershed protection, soil remediation, and environmental greening. It is also the fastest growing timber plant on earth, with many applications as a wood substitute. It is this plant, which forms the central feature of the world), since we started we have been able to tap into the social and ecological potential for Bamboo through the following activities:

• Establishment of a bamboo nursery with a diverse collection of species.
• Field planting of bamboo in selected areas.
• The implementation of a Training Program for the local community (including the cultivation, maintenance, harvesting and utilization of bamboo).
• The development of a community-based business for ornamental plants, bamboo handicrafts and housing.

There’s is a decline in forest cover in Kenya which currently stands at 6.2% compared to 10%
minimum requirement by the United Nations Environmental Program. This has become a key conservation challenge in Kenya, we are currently experiencing deforestation through illegal logging; Charcoal burning; and the encroachment of forests for human settlement and agriculture.

Our solution is to grow and establish bamboo nurseries, bamboo plantations, rehabilitate degraded land, to fully functional ecosystem using bamboo. We also conduct training to individual CBO’s on all aspects of bamboo care, bamboo management, harvesting and associated technologies. We sell high quality bamboo seedlings to individuals, investment groups, NGOs, CBOs, Government ministries and departments, and County governments. We use biotechnology, among other laboratory techniques.