Needs and Opportunities Assessment
Effective
and accurate needs assessment is vital to properly target bamboo
and rattan-based development. Without this we would be in danger
of missing opportunities, or of trialling bamboo or rattan for
development in contexts in which they are not suitable. The dearth
of information on the bamboo and rattan sectors in various nations
has often been the main constraint to the development of sustainable
livelihood development programmes utilising these resources.
Bamboos
and rattans are two of the most important Non-Timber Forest Products.
They are renewable, yield annually and are readily accessible to
rural peoples. As a resource they have enormous potential to fuel
rural development and this has long been recognized in many parts
of the world. However any bamboo development activity exists within
the context of the society in which it is implemented and is subject
to pressures and limitations (constraints) from many factors within
that society not apparently directly related to growing, processing
and selling bamboo. In order to develop a successful development
programme an understanding of all these factors (their effects,
their magnitude and their potential (beneficial or detrimental))
is required.
Carefully focussed case studies allow detailed
analyses to be made and can be very useful if they are chosen to
be truly representative. Such case studies are often based in specific
geographical locations, primarily due to the nature of the bamboo
resource. However because of the huge variety of raw material-management
systems and processing techniques to which bamboos and rattans are
subjected, and end products into which they are made, INBAR has
adopted the study of the Production-to-Consumption
System (PCS) as a reliable and standardized tool for analyzing
all the processes involved, and all the factors impacting upon them.
Over the years, INBAR has found PCS studies to be highly suitable
means of identifying opportunities and constraints in the bamboo
and rattan sectors, and for making recommendations for their improvement.
In some instances a sub-sector-wide evaluation of bamboo or rattan
production, processing and use has also proved valuable for identifying
needs and opportunities.
We
also have some case studies ongoing at present that assess opportunities
for improving the sustainability of bamboo and rattan-based development
through a range of different options. These include the use of micro-hydropower
to fuel bamboo industries development, and the documenting and evaluating
the experience in China of partnerships between communities and
businesses.
