PCAARRD affirms its support and commitment to the continuous development of bamboo with the launching of two new projects in Central Luzon and Northern Mindanao.
In Central Luzon, researchers from Department of Environment and Natural Resources Region 3 will deal on the S&T-based production of quality bamboo planting stocks with the participation of communities in selected areas and rehabilitation of existing bamboo stands.
Under this scheme, nurseries will be established to produce and supply quality planting materials for re-greening identified sloping areas and riverbanks throughout the region. Aside from ecological gains, the farmer-cooperators who will raise the planting materials can earn from selling the same.
Meanwhile, the team from the Central Mindanao University focuses on the capabilities of bamboo to prevent soil erosion in the Taganibong Watershed in Musuan, Bukidnon.
Experiment sites will be set up within the watershed to measure the difference of soils planted with bamboo and those which are not in terms of stability and resilience to erosion.
In addition, PCAARRD recently began its community-based S&T-based farms in Iloilo and Pampanga to help the local enterprises of bamboo merchandises like mats, poles, and shoots.
All projects are anchored on the two-pronged approach of environment protection and livelihood enhancement.