Unearthing potential in Malawi’s bamboo industry

Phiri Kampanje, Brian (2025): Unearthing potential in Malawi’s bamboo industry. Published in: INTL Sustainability Journal, ISSN: 3079-0263 , Vol. 3, No. 2 (1 August 2025): pp. 77-86.

Abstract

Malawi currently sits on an enormous bamboo industry capable of transforming the social and economic fabric of the nation. The bamboo industry would address the acute shortage of desks in public schools and beds in the boarding schools. Import substitution in bicycles and umbrellas would save the meagre forex resources. There is also a lot of export potential which could earn the scarce foreign currency exchange to contain the cost-push inflation as Malawi is a predominantly importing nation. There is however no political will to tap funds from international green financing schemes. Technical and vocational training education does not support this industry. The conservationists need to appreciate it. The time to act is now.

• Item Type: MPRA Paper
• Language: English
• Keywords: Bamboo; Forest, Vision 2063; Malawi, SDG 15
• Subjects: Q - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics ; Environmental and Ecological Economics > Q2 - Renewable Resources and Conservation > Q23 - Forestry; Q - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics ; Environmental and Ecological Economics > Q2 - Renewable Resources and Conservation > Q26 - Recreational Aspects of Natural Resources; Q - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics ; Environmental and Ecological Economics > Q5 - Environmental Economics > Q55 - Technological Innovation; Q - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics ; Environmental and Ecological Economics > Q5 - Environmental Economics > Q57 - Ecological Economics: Ecosystem Services ; Biodiversity Conservation ; Bioeconomics ; Industrial Ecology

References

The Nation Online (2021) “Bamboo plantation to boost economy, fight climate change”, The Nation Online, 6th October 2021 accessed at https://mwnation.com/bamboo-plantation-to-boost-economy-fight-climate-change/

The Nation Online (2024) “Malawi tipped on $63bn global bamboo industry”, The Nation Online, 29th March 2024 accessed at https://mwnation.com/malawi-tipped-on-63bn-global-bamboo-industry/

The World Bank Group (1983) Malawi - Transport Engineering and Services Project (Viphya Export Pulp Engineering Project) - Project Completion Report - June 20, 1983 - Industry Department, Folder ID: 301741, Project ID: P001596

The World Bank Group (1974) Report and Recommendation of the President to the Executive Directors on a Proposed Development Credit to Malawi for a Transport Engineering and Services Project - May 22, 1974 - Report Number P-1451-MAI, Folder ID: 301731, Project ID: P001596

The World Bank Group (1984) Report and Recommendation of the President of the International Bank of Reconstruction and Development on a Proposed Loan in an Amount Equivalent to US$6.4 Million to the Republic of Malawi for a Wood Industries Restructuring Project, Report No. P3915-MAI.