Happy World Bamboo Day!

World Bamboo Day is celebrated on 18 September every year! This global event prioritizes spreading awareness about the importance and versatile usage of the bamboo plant.

Given the vast potential of bamboo for enterprise development, economic resilience and environmental sustainability, SDF is working with partners across SAARC Member States to support communities with bamboo-related employment and income generation.

Through the project, SDF and partners are helping farmers and artisans with harvest, to produce and market bamboo products to improve their quality of life through sustainable economic opportunities.

The US$ 4.3 million SDF grant project - Promoting Integrated Bamboo-Based Enterprise Development among SAARC Countries – is implemented in Member States including Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal.

Bamboo constitutes a significant portion of the total forest area in the region. That is why the SDF-funded project on bamboo emphasizes on supporting the local farmers and artisans by providing trainings on bamboo treatment, nursery development, handicraft, lifestyle products, furniture, shoot pickling, handling, packaging and marketing. Several Community Facility Centres (CFC) have also been built, and much-needed equipment and machinery have been provided. The CFCs support farmers and artisans to reduce drudgery and produce quality and standardized bamboo products. The project is benefiting thousands of households in the Member States.

Here’s a video of the SDF-funded project on “Promoting Integrated Bamboo-Based Enterprise Development among SAARC Countries”.