Walia Special Edition on the Bale Mountains (2011) - Zoologische ...

Amongst the interviewees, 80% of people expressed concern regarding the sustainable
harvesting of bamboo, below are the main reasons resulting in this concern:
1) Inefficient utilisation of the resources: Only one third of a culm is utilised when harvested
for sale as per the demand in the cities, resulting in two thirds usually being left to rot in the forest.
2) Damage to young culms: Current harvesting methods often damage young culms in
attempts to harvest ripe ones; due to insufficient knowledge harvesters may harvest unripe culms,
young shoots are often eaten by livestock and lastly, young boys showing off, often cut off young
culms and leave them to rot.
Using 6,000 culms per ha for highland bamboo as indicated by Ensermu et al (2000) and
47,237.7 ha of Shedem’s bamboo forest area estimated through satellite images, the total bamboo
culms in Shedem is estimated to be 283,426,200 culms. As stated previously on average 615 culms
are harvested per household per month and there are 535 households in Shedem (Jemal Kayo,
Development Agent of Shedem Kebele, pers. comm.). If we assume that 85–95% of households in
Shedem harvest bamboo, then the total annual bamboo harvested is between 3,356,055–3,750,885
culms or 1.18–1.3 % of total resource available per year.
It appears that there is seasonal variation in bamboo culm prices. During times of high
bamboo resource abundance, sellers have reduced bargaining power hence intermediaries tend to
have an advantage, and can obtain bamboo at lower than usual prices. However, when the resources
become scarce in the market a higher price is set for the culms, thus giving sellers the advantage.
Table 2 shows the seasonal variation of resource abundance and selling price.
Table 2. Seasonal fluctuation of bamboo in Goba market
Months
Season / Activities in
Shedem
Availability of bamboo
culms in Goba Market
Price of culms
January – March Harvest time Decreases Increases
April – June Dry season Increases Decreases
July – August
July – October
Sowing time
Rainy Season
Decreases Increases
Nov. – Dec. Dry season Increases Decreases
Value chain analyses
This study identified six major chain actors in the market. These are: harvesters, intermediaries,
transporters, producers, consumers, and Government tax collectors.
Bamboo harvesters
A headcount of horses and donkeys was carried out to estimate the number of bamboo
bundles coming to Goba. The number is estimated to be between 600-800 per market day, with
market occurring on Wednesdays and Saturdays. However, people from Shedem claim it could go
as high as 1000 per day during the dry season and a bit lower during harvest time. Each horse carries
2 bundles of either 48 thin culms or 24 medium culms. The thin part of the culm is what is mostly
<strong>Walia</strong>-<strong>Special</strong> <strong>Edition</strong> on the Bale Mountains 217