Determinants of Highland Bamboo (Yushania alpina) Culm Supply: The Case of Loma and Tocha Districts, Dawuro Zone of Southern Ethiopia

Abstract

The overall objective of this research was to increase better understand of the challenges that influence highland bamboo culm supply in Dawuro zone with the specific objectives of mapping highland bamboo culm marketing channels of the study districts and analyzing determinants of highland bamboo culms supply. Data were generated by individual interview and group discussions by using questionnaires and checklists. This was supplemented by secondary data collected from different published and unpublished sources. Multistage sampling technique was applied. Sample of 109 bamboo producers and 34 traders and 2 small and medium bamboo culm processors were main sources of primary data. Descriptive statistics and econometric analysis were employed. Producers, traders (collectors and wholesalers) and bamboo handicraftsmen are chain actors in study areas. Bamboo producers supplied (348,940 culms) to different buyers in 2015 production year. Since there is heteroscedasticity problem in the data set, robust OLS regression econometric model was used to analyze determinants of highland bamboo culms supply to market in study districts. Bamboo culms supply determinants such as quantity of Yushania alpina produced, distance to nearest all weather road, silvicultural management of bamboo stands, access to market information, land allocated for bamboo plantation, and Yushania alpina farming experience were found to significantly affect the household market supply of bamboo culms. Of these explanatory variables, quantity of Yushania alpina produced, distance to all nearest weather road, silvicultural management of bamboo stands were the strongest factors that determine bamboo culms supply to market (p<0.001). To improve output of bamboo culms and increase their own incomes; farmers should apply intensive bamboo silvicultural management. But bringing about a meaningful change in the production and utilization of bamboo resources in the study areas requires a combined effort of all relevant stakeholders.

Keywords: Culms supply, Dawuro, highland bamboo (Yushania alpina) value chain, multiple linear regression model