By Muhammad Asad Tahir Bhawana ISLAMABAD, March 04 (INP-WealthPK): Bamboo industry has proved to be highly profitable. Pakistan is one of the countries that have a favourable environment for large-scale bamboo production. However, it has not yet fully benefited from it. To enhance production, Pakistan has joined the International Network on Bamboo and Rattan (INBAR), reported INP-WealthPk. [caption id="attachment_64452" align="aligncenter" width="696"] Bamboo Industry Use of Tech to Help Cut Poverty, Trade Deficit[/caption] The INBAR is an organization that provides technical support to its member countries for increased production and export. Pakistan is the 48th country that has joined the INBAR. Among these 48 members, China, India, and Vietnam top the list in terms of exports. Bamboo is a fast-growing crop and is ready to harvest within a year. Its annual cost is about Rs20,000 to Rs25,000 per acre, while it sells at around Rs150,000 to Rs40,000 per acre. It also brings a huge number of people into service and contributes a lot towards curtailing unemployment. A labourer is paid Rs15 to Rs20 per bamboo and earns Rs1,500 to Rs3,000 per day. The global market of bamboo is valued at $54 billion in 2020 and is expected to grow at the rate of 5.7% between 2021 and 2022. The export value of Pakistan’s bamboo is much lower than the Indian bamboo. India exports around 140.47 USD million worth of bamboo a year. Pakistan can capture the international bamboo market with the technical support of China. In 2019, Pakistan sold 5,400 tons of bamboo in the local market which is a very low quantity compared with other bamboo-producing countries. Bamboo is not only used as raw material, but can also be made into thousands of products. In Chiniot, which is a big market, bamboo is being used to make furniture and tops, kitchen utensils, sports equipment, toothbrushes, and decorating products. Aman Ullah, a carpenter in Chiniot, told INP-WealthPK, ‘’Due to the small scale of our industry, we do not have access to international markets for such products’’. In Pakistan, bamboo cultivation is considered economically sustainable. It has the potential to grow on a larger scale and can be sold to Iran, Afghanistan, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Indonesia, and Central Asia. Bamboo is a common business in areas such as Sargodha, Chiniot, Mandi Bahaud Din, Kasur, and Dera Ghazi Khan in Pakistan. Nevertheless, due to lack of technology and proper guidance, these areas are still at the basic level of utilization. With the consistent support of China and the INBAR, the people of the member countries are improving their living standards. Pakistan must utilize the resources provided by the INBAR to increase its production and exports. Pakistan should also focus on a variety of products with a good value in the international market, including bamboo beds, bamboo mirrors, skateboards, and flutes. The Government of Pakistan should encourage and support the producers in order to increase bamboo exports. It will help alleviate poverty and minimize trade deficit.