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

available in the market because of its high demand. Taking the estimated ratio of 75:25 given by
intermediaries, for the two sizes and assuming the medium and thin sized culms are obtained from
the same bamboo culm, the amount of bamboo coming to Goba each market day is estimated to
be between 21,600–28,800 culms (on average 201,600 culms/month). There is another group of
communities coming from a neighbouring kebele – Adaba Gefecha. They, however, represent few in
number and only 20% of interviewees at the market site. Taking these harvesters into consideration,
the total amount of bamboo coming from Shedem is 17,280–23,040 culms per market day. The
average value of bamboo at this stage is 1 ETB/culm.
Since harvesters transport the culms from a remote resource site to a town where people can
buy and use them they are an integral part of the value chain. However, they see their lack of skill
as an obstacle to being able to add a higher economic value to bamboo.
Intermediaries
Intermediaries are people who buy the culms from the Goba market and transport them to larger
nearby towns such as Robe, Agarfa, Gasera, Jara, and Ginir to sell them at a higher price. In Robe the
average price per culm was 1.10 ETB but increased to 1.30 ETB in towns further away. According
to the intermediaries (n = 9) interviewed and the tax collector, there are about 21 individuals coming
from different towns around Goba acting as regular intermediaries.
Interviews with intermediaries revealed that the average number of bamboo culms bought
by this group ranges from 7947–9387 per person per month, hence taking these 21 intermediaries,
the amount of bamboo bought by them is 166,887–197,127 culms per month. This shows that on
average 182,007 culms (90% of the total average that comes to Goba) are bought by intermediaries.
All intermediaries interviewed acknowledged bamboo as a good source of income; however
it was usually only a secondary activity for them. The net profit reported ranged from 75 to 3200
ETB per month (an average of 835 ETB/month). This translates to an average net profit of 0.083
ETB/culm. The associated costs that have been identified are transport, tax, storage, loading and
unloading. Intermediaries identify seasonal availability and poor quality culms as major problems.
Transporters
Those buying culms to be used in Goba and Robe use horse carriages. There are a number of carriage
owners but five individuals are regular service providers and are well known among the intermediaries
and consumers. In addition to the transport services they provide, these fives are also considered to be
good at identifying the good bamboo culms both for individual buyers and intermediaries. They do
up to eight rounds of transport per market day carrying up to 25 bundles each time and charge 1 ETB/
bundle. Thus they make up to 200 birr per market day on good days. Their expenses are about 10 birr
per market day for carriage driver wages and upkeep of the horses. When they assist intermediaries
they are paid additional money (by negotiation) besides the transport fee. Intermediaries moving
bamboo further away use Isuzu trucks for transporting the culms. The price depends on the distance
travelled and ranges from 400–600 ETB per trip. Transporters confirm that their business slows down
seasonally when bamboo resources reduce during harvest, sowing and rainy seasons.
<strong>Walia</strong>-<strong>Special</strong> <strong>Edition</strong> on the Bale Mountains 218