Black bamboo could be excellent stake for vine vegetables

Several vegetable farmers we met in Majayjay and Liliw, Laguna use a lot of bamboo stakes in growing their tall tomatoes as well as their cucumber, ampalaya and other vine vegetables. The problem is that the stakes are becoming more expensive. They used to pay R10 per piece of about 8 to10 feet long. When we met them in February 2019, the price had gone up to R12 apiece.

Adding to their woes is the fact that the bamboo stakes are not readily available. One supplier had stopped delivering after government agents accosted him on his way to deliver a trailer-load of bambo stakes to his buyers. Why? Because he did not have a permit from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to deliver such materials. Previously, no permits were required. Without any permit, the load could be confiscated and the vehicle impounded. Now the fellow has stopped delivering bamboo stakes.

We believe that the farmers should plant the Black Bamboo near where they

BACK TO BLACK BAMBOO –

grow their vegetables. It could be near the periphery of their farms. It could be along the river banks where they don’t grow any crops of value. The bamboo could even help prevent erosion.

The Black Bamboo has not been grown in commercial scale. Most of those who have acquired some planting materials consider them as rare addition to their collection of expensive plants. But the Black Bamboo need not be expensive because it can be propagated easily and will grow in many areas in the country. It just happens that no one is planting them in a commercial plantation. The Black Bamboo produces a lot of culms that are just the right size for the purpose of the vegetable farmers. There are no thorns and there are no branches. Cuttings of half mature culms may be used for propagation.

One possibility is for an enterprising entrepreneur to go into commercial planting of Black Bamboo near where there are many vegetable farmers who need bamboo poles in their vegetable farming. It could be a profitable venture with the right management.

BLACK BAMBOO PROPAGATIONS – These are Black Bamboo propagations at the Sarian Farm in Teresa, Rizal which are ready for division to produce more planting materials. When grown in the field, it will grow fast, especially if it is fertilized with lots of old manure.