By Zuurah Karungi
With bamboo, Earth Day is every day; it consumes pollution, creates oxygen and supplies renewable resources.
Bamboo has over 1,270 types. It is said to be the fastest-growing plant on Earth with some variants said to grow more than a meter a day under favorable conditions.
The advantage with bamboo trees is that they thrive anywhere; from wetlands to mountains, making them favorable for all conditions.
Bamboo is said to absorb carbon dioxide and release 35 per cent more oxygen into the atmosphere, making it more planet-friendly than an equivalent stand of hardwood trees.
Benefits of Bamboo
Best for agroforestry
Bamboo is the best for agroforestry solutions because it grows fast compared to other trees. It re-grows without being replanted, making it the easiest tree to grow.
According to John Magezi, a bamboo grower in Kyenjojo district, the plant’s market has also grown over the years.
He says the best advantage also is that bamboo does not require irrigation; they thrive even in the dry season.
Constructing houses
The best bamboo material to use in construction is called Dendrocalamus asper, a native of India, which is one of the hardest.
It is purely solid and has no hole unlike other types. It grows 90ft and in five years or less. Magezi says a bamboo cane can be curved in a variety of shapes since it is bendable.
For example it can go circular, square, triangle, and oval, among others shapes. This makes it multipurpose for both hotel space and homes furnishing.
Bamboo is said to provide the best material to make beam. “If it is used for roofing, it should be covered with transparent iron sheets to protect it from rain water.
“In cases where it is used to support the roof, give the house a big shade so that it can limit the water that gets into the bamboo,” Magezi says.
Great for furniture
Peter Kiyinji, a carpenter, notes that bamboo makes good furniture like windows, chairs, doors, floors, and ceilings among others.
These are durable and appealing to use on both interior and exterior surfaces.
Detergent
Magezi says you can use a bamboo plant to get a detergent called bamboo vinegar, which is used to keep bamboo materials safe from termites and other insects.
Bamboo vinegar can also be used as a skin toner and hair detergent, among other health benefits.
Musical instruments
We have all seen or played the flute in school. Bamboo trees are behind the soothing sound that sweetly fills our ears when flutes are played.
Recently it is also been used in making guitars and ukuleles.
Meals
Bamboo shoots are a delicacy in many parts of the world. Malewa, a Bagisu staple sauce in Uganda is made from smoked bamboo shoots.
Enid Nabumati, a Mugisu, says Malewa goes well with Matooke, though some people prefer it with posho or yams.
The shoots are low in calories and rich in fibre, making them healthy to eat.
Bamboo shoots are said to heal constipation, are good for digestion, and boost body immunity.
Mulching
Magezi says farmers get high yields using bamboo to mulch their gardens. They prevent soil erosion and provide nutrients to plants.
Used in making clothes
Bamboo is used to make clothes. Its textile is eco-friendly, and many industries in South Africa are using bamboo canes to make shirts. Clothes made from bamboo have good air circulation.
Strong, classy fence
Bamboo is good for fencing, it provides a natural and lasting controllable barrier since it grows thick.
It also reduces rain runoff and is also good at preventing soil erosion since it has an extensive root system and a large canopy.
Jane Muhindo, a landscaper, says bamboo can be shaped and controlled based on homeowners’ tests. This gives you a classy yet secure landscape.
She adds that in many homes, bamboo is incorporated as an outdoor plant. These are trimmed to create beautiful scenery and a cool feel in a home.
Medicines
According to https://econation.one/bamboo, in China, bamboo is used to make medicine.
This is derived from the back of bamboo shoots to heal kidney diseases and roots and leaves to treat venereal diseases and cancer.
Other uses
Jewelers use it to make necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and other types of jewelry. In China, bamboo is used to make mats, baskets, and other house ornaments.
It is important to note that not all types of bamboo are useful.
