TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT FOR RURAL LIVELIHOOD ENHANCEMENT: COMMUNITY-BASED BAMBOO SLAT FLOORING

CONCERNS Who benefits most? What kind of infrastructure? How much? What is available? From where? What does the market need? How do we match resources and the market?

ACTION RESEARCH SITE ABRA FIGURES : Households – 1500 Municipalities – 6 Villages - 18 People ABRA FIGURES : Households – 1500 Municipalities – 6 Villages - 18 People – 4500 Bamboo Resources – bambusa blumeana, cyrtochloa

BACKGROUND 240 HH of Mudeng&Udangan, Abra in Mat Weaving pcs of 1 mx 1m bamboo slats boards P.O. of Functional Arts Dolores : 30 kms from weaving weaving community

THE PROCESS : HARVESTING Bambusa blumeana Preferred dimensions for harvested culms are 9cm x 1cm x 10m. Bamboo farmers are provided with capacity building and training to ensure they are able to identify mature culms (e.g. culm age marking) that meet product specifications.

THE PROCESS : CUT IN BETWEEN NODES Cylinders are cut in between nodes 9 cm dia. X 1 cm Thx 30.5 cm L 25 internodes/culm

THE PROCESS : SPLITTING Cylinders are cut into splits of 22 mm W x 1 cm Thx 30.5 L 8 splits/cylinder

THE PROCESS : TREATMENT & DRYING Water treatment in running water (river) Borax & Boric Acid Boiling Sundrying

THE PROCESS : SPLICING Treated splits are spliced into slats (22 mm W x 2 mm Th x 30.5 cm L). 1 st 6 cylinders – 2 slats 2 nd 6 cylinders – 1 slat 13 th to 25 th cylinder – 1 slat 250 slats/culm

THE PROCESS : RE-SIZING Simple tools, which require low investment, are used for re-sizing. For example, a wooden-log is used to measure length and thickness. Though metal rods for re-sizing are available, community members prefer to use wooden logs, which are easier to move back and forward during the resizing process.

THE PROCESS : LAMINATION Slats are laminated directly on the semi- prepared floor or onto ply-wood or rubber using adhesives. The slats need to be stamped with heavy materials so that the slats are glued properly. Slats are left to dry for 24 hrs.

THE PROCESS : GRINDING Slats are plained and grinded using a planer and grinder. Gaps between the laminated boards are refilled using glue and sawdust, which is left to dry for 3 to 4 hours.

THE PROCESS : FINISHING Sanding Flooring is sealed then coated with polyurethane.

COST Initial start-up capital of US$20000 ( 10 meters x 10 meters workshed, treatment facility, basic machines, tools, jigs, glue, initial labour, purchasing of bamboo, and other materials. Operating cost for an enterprise is estimated at US 5036 for direct labour cost and materials, which go directly to rural producers, accounting for 40% of selling price. Based on current retailing prices and production capacities, an enterprise with full marketing linkages could make an 18% profit from total selling price.

THE INSTITUTIONAL CONTEXT IFAD Grant TAG 774 as ARS of the INBAR Livelihood & Economic Development programme IFAD grant TAG 1037 for commercialization

PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION Target Groups – The project targets local unemployed youths Project outputs – Slat flooring technology validated in partnership with community members – community members introduced to new market for bamboo – employment for community members – increased income – creativity on the use of jigs and tools

TANGIBLE IMPACTS HUMAN CAPITAL – 100 young men were trained in bamboo slat flooring production; incomes from the sector have allowed trainees to enter further education or repair their homes SOCIAL IMPACT : – Technology for bamboo slat flooring incorporated into GMI design centre network, which currently operates in India and Ecuador, as well as the Philippines. – Improved community awareness of bamboo as alternative to wood flooring. – Traditional weavers are able to apply their existing skills to new products and training other communities NATURAL CAPITAL : – With commercialization : greater incentives to plant and grow bamboo – Environmental benefits : improved soil water capture and retention, reclaiming of degraded lands.

INTANGIBLE IMPACTS From , about 3000 sq. meters of bamboo slat flooring has been produced, creating sales revenue of US$60400 Community groups with a monthly production capacity of 1500 panels of 1.2 meters x 1.2 meters have now been established in three villages One household unit can provide employment for 3 people in one working shift.

CONSTRAINTS FACED DURING THE PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION Although the production technology has been validated, there are a number of constraints that currently prevent commercialization. Internal: – Current technology is very labour intensive and requires further modification to increase production capacity. – Treatment and finishing processes need to be reassessed to ensure that final products are uniform and meet market quality standards – Inadequate linkages between community producers and commercial markets. – Product quality needs to be further enhanced and standard of production needs to be consistent to ensure quality. External: – Marketing linkages between producers and final buyers remain poor. – Further capital is required to increase investment in the sector and promote long-term growth

ACCESSIBILITY – REPLICATION at the international level across INBAR’s 34-country network. Research outputs are available at low, or no cost to individuals and community groups operating in member countries. – -In the Philippines, linkages with regional and national development agencies, community grassroot groups, and NGOs. Through its network, InHand is able to disseminate information and research outputs to key Filipino stakeholders. (Mangyans of Mindoro, Igorots of Kapangan, Benguet.

INSTITUTIONAL SUSTAINABILITY – Development professionals) play an active role in decision-making, along with technical partners, such as In-Tech Dev and INBAR. – Bamboo flooring technology has been developed with high levels of community participation. Local community labourers and technicians have been heavily involved in both the design and prototyping phases. – Community producer groups are also integrated into InHand’s institutional system, with the NGO providing technical and marketing backstopping.

THE GENDER DIMENSION – Women in processes like lamination, sanding – Marketing

DISSEMINATION PATHWAYS Communication strategies at the village level: Design Centre-based training courses led by Master Trainers Face-to-face meetings Artisan-to-artisan communication Communication strategies at the National and International levels Trade Fairs and product workshops Technical reports and publications

FURTHER RESEARCH NEEDS Encourage Public Private Partnerships to enable rural communities to access working credit funds, such as bank loans. This will enable community enterprises to meet growing working capital needs, based on their positive cash flow and annual growth. Expand training programmes to more local youths. Conduct further prototyping to refine production methods and lower costs. Jigs and tools used for floor making should be further improved upon.

MAIN SUCCESSFUL TECHNICAL COMPONENTS OF THE RESEARCH PROGRAMME Successful development and prototyping of slat flooring with simple tools enabling production at community level with limited investment. Local community members trained in production techniques required to produce bamboo slat flooring. Community members trained in process flow costing, which includes their own labour. This has increased communities bargaining power with end-buyers, resulting in improved prices for rural producers. Creatingawarenessamong home owners, churches and businessesofbambooflooringasan alternative towood.

PROCESS SHEET