How can Beema Bamboo Plantations Benefit Islands and Farmers in the Philippines? : A study in Manila, Marinduque and Romblon, the Philippines

Sammanfattning: This study was conducted as a bachelor thesis at KTH Royal Institute of Technology in the spring of 2019. The study was carried out as a Minor Field Study (MFS) funded by the Swedish agency SIDA (Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency). The study focuses on the potential economic- & ecological benefits of farming bamboo on small islands in the Philippines. Few other countries are so vulnerable for natural disasters as the Philippines. Majority of the farmers in the Philippines live on a day to day payment where the life of a family can be destroyed when a disaster strikes and ruins the crops. Bamboo could be intercropped and supply farmers with a more stable and higher income on the long term. This project examines previous Beema bamboo plantations, the characteristics of Beema bamboo and explores future implementations. The main type of bamboo that is explored is Beema bamboo, a modified and improved version of Bambusa Balcooa. The Philippines have optimal growth conditions for Beema bamboo and could develop industries which can provide job opportunities. Since the research of Beema bamboo is still in early stages in the Philippines this goal is still years away.