Vietnam’s sweet bamboo see great potential for exports

Export prospects

Sweet bamboo's protein content contributes significantly to the formation of new cell tissue, the healing of damaged tissue, and the regulation of the function of red blood cells, hormones, and enzymes.

The Carbohydrate content of sweet bamboo shoots is about 3.73 g/100g on average. Sweet bamboo shoots have an average of 2.75 grams of sugar per 100 grams, more than certain other green vegetables such as tomatoes (2.63 grams per 100 grams), broccoli (1.6 grams per 100 grams), and green bananas (1.95 grams per 100 grams).

Sweet bamboo shoots contain an average of 1.92 grams of protein per 100 grams, which is higher than that of common vegetables, tubers, and fruits such as tomato (0.6 grams per 100 grams), green banana (1.2 grams per 100 grams), carrots (1.5 grams per 100 grams), broccoli (1.7 grams per 100 grams), and cabbage (1.8 grams per 100 grams).

Annually, the globe consumes about 2 million tons of bamboo shoots. The United States, Japan, and Singapore are the world's biggest exporters of bamboo shoots. However, the primary growing regions for bamboo shoots are in Asia, namely China, India, Thailand, and Taiwan (China).

Sweet bamboo was discovered at the end of the nineteenth century and may reach a height of 25-30 meters and a diameter of 13-30 cm. Sweet bamboo has a highly diverse ecological height range, ranging from about 50 meters in Chan Mong commune, Doan Hung district, Phu Tho, to 1,600 meters in Dao San commune, Phong Tho district, Lai Chau. In addition to collecting bamboo shoots, delicious bamboo plants have a protective function since they are harvested selectively to preserve forest cover.

Dr. Nguyen Van Tho, Deputy Director of the Center for Forestry Science in the North Central area of Vietnam, is an ardent supporter of this bamboo species. Between 2016 and 2020, he conducted a study on the topic of exploitation and development of the genetic origins of this sweet bamboo variety.

According to his study, sweet bamboo plants develop the fastest between the ages of one and two years, producing an average of approximately two shoots per mother plant. At the third age, the output dropped abruptly to 0.2-0.4 bamboo shoots per mother plant.

Locals in Phu Tho, Lai Chau, Lao Cai, and Dien Bien generally agreed that the more sweet bamboo shoots exploited, the more bamboo shoots thrive.

According to Tho, the remaining tree population is a critical element in the development of bamboo shoots. People in Phu Tho often leave 4-5 trees in each cluster due to his advice. Additionally, the forestry doctor advises that individuals pick all bamboo shoots during the first four harvests and then choose and grow one bamboo shot every 1-2 harvests.

"If the placement of bamboo shoots is chosen carefully so that they are equally dispersed across the growing region, the potential of delicious bamboo is unlimited," Dr. Nguyen Van Tho said.

Fragrant in the manner of sweet bamboo shoots

Pham Van Chien, who has the greatest experience at the Center for Forestry Science in the North Central area, bragged about a unique bamboo species.

"This bamboo shoot is very delicious; it is sweet and fragrant, rather than harsh and pungent, like other bamboo shoots are. I used to roast fresh bamboo shoots and eat them immediately, just dipping them in salt and feeling delightful. After eating, I completely forgot about my tiredness. "Chien said.

Bamboo shoots are derived from delicious bamboo. This is a novel bamboo kind that has been introduced to Vietnam and has been domesticated from nature. Sweet bamboo has several noteworthy benefits, the most important of which is the economic value of bamboo shoots.

Fresh bamboo shoots may be purchased for about VND20,000 per kilogram.

Although similar in appearance to strong-toned bamboo, sweet bamboo produces much more. After a year of planting, bamboo produced bamboo shoots. Bamboo shoot yields stabilized after around two years. A big bamboo stalk may reach a weight of seven kilos. Additionally, sweet bamboo produces bamboo shoots sooner than most other kinds of bamboo. In comparison to fruit trees, sweet bamboo requires minimal maintenance, is suited for mild slopes, and may thrive in less rich soils.

Dr. Nguyen Van Tho said that seasonal variables have a major effect on the proliferation efficiency of sweet bamboo. The optimum period to propagate is during the spring crop; employing IBA at a concentration of 1500 ppm results in a 28-day survival rate of 97.8 percent, a shoot/root cutting ratio of 3.61, a root cutting ratio of 20, a root length of 6.9 cm, and a survival rate of 92 percent following cuttings at the nursery.

Regarding propagation, Tho advised farmers to break the subterranean stem using a crowbar, knife, or ax. Planting with original types has the benefit of being easy and fast to form clusters, which makes it a frequently used method, but it has limits in terms of seasonality and survival rate.

The extent to which bamboo shoots are exploited also dictates the sustainability and stability of the revenue produced by bamboo shoots. Bamboo shoots emerge from May to September in Phu Tho, Bac Giang, and Quang Ninh, but are most abundant in June and July. At the peak of this crop's production, the harvesting season may be as short as 4-7 days.

According to Tho's study, sweet bamboo should account for 50% of the overall planting area to guarantee the bamboo plant's development potential.

Since the concept of extending sweet bamboo farming for shoots was introduced in Phu Tho province, the plant variety has grown in popularity.