Vientiane bamboo handicraft makers need more stems
Vientiane bamboo handicraft makers need more stems
Groups of bamboo handicraft producers in Vientiane province cannot produce in the quantities they would like due to a lack of bamboo stems, a senior official in the sector has confirmed.
A representative of bamboo handicraft producers in Viengkham district, Vientiane province, Ms Bounmy explained recently that bamboo handicraft products are facing a lack of raw materials to supply the market demand.
Of its total raw materials, the group needs to source 60 percent of that as bamboo stems but currently it can only source 40 percent.
Last month, the price of bamboo rose from 200 kip per stem to 500 kip per stem, a major rise over the period of just one month.
Two years ago, the group had enough bamboo to supply local handicraft products makers but the producers used up that supply without planting more bamboo.
Ms Bounmy expects the lack of bamboo stems will continue to be a problem in future years if they do not receive assistance from the concerned authorities, especially the Lao Handicrafts Association.
This year, bamboo planters in Viengkham district couldn't supply handicraft makers' demand, so they must look for another market even if they have to pay higher prices for their raw materials.
Ms Bounmy stressed bamboo can be used to make all kinds of household and fashion products, and its prices are reasonable, so these products are still in high demand both domestically and internationally.
Ms Bounmy believed the lack of bamboo stems will see Lao handicraft makers lose chances to compete in regional markets.
She was confident that the products the group produces can compete for sale in overseas markets, if handicraft makers are helped to improve design standards and ensure a sustainable supply of bamboo stems.
Consequently, she hoped the government and the concerned authorities would continue to boost farmers to expand their hectares of bamboo plantation.
She added that the group has already encouraged its members to replant bamboo but they will have to wait many months before the supply picks up again.
