Abstract:
The study was carried out in 120 field experimentation sites where 2420 bamboo cuttings were planted under the same tobacco-growing conditions in five different zones. Each farmer was given 20 bamboo cuttings: 10 each of giant bamboo (Dendrocalamus giganteus) and common bamboo (Bambusa vulgaris). Findings show that the two species can grow well in soil and agro-climatic conditions similar to those of tobacco. To replace tobacco with bamboo in Kenya, the experiment needs to be replicated in remaining tobacco-growing regions in the country. Capacity building through farmer empowerment, training, and in bamboo processing will be important.
