Bamboo preservation by Sap Displacement (1)

Why preserve bamboos? Bamboos are a natural material and under natural conditions will gradually decay. If they are used as structural components they will need to be replaced after a period of time. The costs of this may prove prohibitive and the status of the bamboo will need constant monitoring to determine when it needs to be replaced. Preserving bamboos extends their life, reduces costs in the long run and improves safety of the structures they are used to form. What are sap displacement preservation methods? Sap displacement methods replace the sap in the vessels of a fresh bamboo culm with preservative. The culms are then left to stand for two weeks in order that the preservative can diffuse into the surrounding tissues and the preserving salts can be fixed in the cells. Sap displacement can be done by using natural capillary action or by one of a small range of simple pressurised techniques. What is the role of a sap displacement preservation unit in rural development? The unit itself offers employment opportunities to its employees and to many people in its forward and backward linkages. The unit can only treat freshly harvested bamboos and so a source of bamboos near to the unit is required. Local bamboo plantations can be established to supply the unit and create further income generating opportunities. Bamboos can be intercropped with food plants and the plantations can thereby increase the food security of the rural people that manage them. How do I establish a sap displacement unit? A sap displacement preservation unit can be established very cheaply. The only requirements are a supply of freshly harvested bamboos, labour and information from the secondary processors of their requirements. If a pressurised unit is to be established then a source of energy for the compressor will be needed. A pressurised unit capable of treating 50 bamboos per day can be established for USD $500, including a compressor, and non-pressurised units can be established for considerably less.Preserving bamboos extends their life, reduces costs in the long run and improves safety of the structures they are used to for