Potential of adopting bamboo as an alternative crop to smallholder tobacco farming in South Nyanza region, Kenya

The presentation provides findings from a study that examined changes in household livelihood strategies used by tobacco farmers in comparison to non-tobacco farmers, and assessed marketing dynamics for investment in the bamboo industry in the South Nyanza region (Kenya). At 120 farm trial sites, bamboo seedlings were planted under natural tobacco growing conditions (soil, altitude, rainfall and temperatures). Education and training were provided to farmers. Bamboo matures in 3-4 years and can be harvested for up to 80 -120 years with small capital investment. Recommendations include provision of a transitional fund to support initial input requirements