Natural Fibres for

Composites in Ethiopia
Tolera

List of fibres

Literature reviews on Bamboo and its Abundancy in

Ethiopia
In the 1960s, the total area of bamboo was estimated at 1.5 million hectares,
including 1 million hectares of lowland bamboo. However, a study by private
consultants in 1997 significantly reduced this estimate. The currently estimated (as
of 2005 it mean) total area of bamboo is 849 000 ha. The area of sympodial bamboo
is 700 000 ha. About 481 000 ha were mapped and partly surveyed for the 1997
study. The total area of mapped monopodial bamboo is 148 626 ha, including 129
626 ha of naturally regenerated and 19 000 ha of planted bamboo. It is likely that
the Ethiopian bamboo area has been shrinking since 1997.
Source: World bamboo resources A thematic study prepared in the framework of the Global Forest Resources Assessment 2005

The botanical name of Ethiopians lowland

bamboo is Oxytenonthera abyssinica.
Its height ranging from 1 to 10 metres
and diameters ranging from 5 to 10 cm.
Distribution of lowland bamboo in Ethiopia.

Source: Bamboo cultivation manual Eastern Africa bamboo Project , 2009

Bamboo Plants
Ethiopia has an estimated one million hectares of natural bamboo forest, the largest in the
African continent (Mekonnen et al, 2014)
Bamboo land coverage in Ethiopia from Ethiopian Forest Resources study by (Moges et al,
2010) shows that,
Highlandbamboo 31,003 hectare
Lowlandbamboo 1,070,1981 hectare
Source:WBISPP,2005(p.18)

A framework of the bamboo production-to-marketing chain in Ethiopia.

Source:Zenebe Mekonnen, Adefires Worku,et al, Bamboo Resources in Ethiopia: Their value chain and contribution to livelihoods,

Diversity of Bamboo Plants and Utilization in Ethiopia

Different bamboo species are available in Ethiopia. Ethiopia has Africas biggest bamboo resources and this plant can be harvested
in sustainable cycles on 30%-40% of the mature culms every two years [15].
The total resource base of Ethiopia is confined to two indigenous bamboo species out of more than 1500 species of bamboo in the
world and 43 species in Africa. The highland bamboo (Yushania Alpina), 8cm diameter and 17m height covers 15% and the
monotypic genus lowland bamboo (Oxythenantera Abyssinica), with solid culms at maturing age, 5cm diameter and 7m high
covers 85%.
The Ethiopian natural bamboo forest covers about 1 million hectares, which is about 7% of the world total and 67% of the African
bamboo forest area.

Source: ECBP-Documentation, Bamboo Policy in Ethiopia, Conference on bamboo applications; Editor: S. George, Addis Ababa Ethiopia, 2007.

Kenaf plant

Kenaf (Hibiscus spp.). Kenaf is reported by many authors of being an Ethiopia origin. Hibiscus
cannabinus occurs wild in a range of habitats. The cultivated species is Hibiscus sabdariffa. In
addition to these six wild Hibiscus spp. have been observed in Ethiopia.
Kenaf originated in Africa and grows wild mainly in the tropical zone and subtropical regions of
Africa. Kenaf is also cultivated in tropical zones and subtropical regions worldwide as a fiber crop.
Kenaf is a straight annual plant that grows to 2.5 m to 4 m in height. The surface skins are peeled
off from the stem and the fibers are used as the material for ropes, mats, and jute bags.
Recently, the fibers are also used as the material for paper, electrical insulation, and filters.
The suitable temperature for the growing period is 16C to 27C and an average rainfall of 500
mm to 750 mm.
The plant does not require a special soil condition; however, cultivation in lowland swamps is not
suitable as it has low moisture resistance.
Seeds need to be planted in May to June. After the stem has grown sufficiently, the plant is
removed and dried under the sunlight.
The surface skins are peeled off after soaking them in water for 10 to 20 days, and the fibers are
extracted.

Source: Fiber Plants of Africa and their Usage by Japan Association for International Collaboration of Agriculture and Forestry March 2010

False banana tree(Ensete)

The wild form ofEnsete ventricosumis widespread in tropical Africa from Ethiopia, through
Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania south to Mozambique and South Africa (Transvaal), and west to
the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Enset is cultivated only in Ethiopia, where it was first domesticated possibly about 8000 years
ago. The centre of enset cultivation is in the mountains of south-western Ethiopia.
Enset is the main food for 10-12 million people as of 1997 and 15 million people as of 2013
and in the highlands of south and south-western Ethiopia.
Enset is primarily grown to produce a starchy food from the pseudostem, corm and stalk of
the inflorescence.
Ethiopian statistics indicate that there are 167,900 ha of enset. In 1997
An average family, dependent on enset as a major food crop, cultivates 200400 plants, and
the yearly consumption per person averages from 10 to 20 plants.
Source: http://www.prota4u.info/protav8.asp?h=M4,M5&t=ensete,ventricosum,enset&p=Ensete+ventricosum

"Everyone agrees that measurement of theEnsetplantation area is straightforward and we

have to rely on the farmer to truthfully report the number of plants he harvested. But that is
where the consensus ends. What mathematical figure to use for the yield per plant and per
hectare, no one agrees Dr. Robert Shank and Chernet Ertiro
Source: http://www.africa.upenn.edu/eue_web/enset96.htm
The assessment ofEnsetproduction for the years 1987 to 1990 was made by the Central
Statistical Authority

Landscape in Sidama zone showing five houses

(left-rear and four across the center) with
their fenced enset gardens and pasture areas.
Photo by Robert Quinlan.

Source: Southern Ethiopia Peoples Regional Administration Ministry of Agriculture.

Sisal

Sisal fibre is obtained from the leaves of the plant. It also is used as an
ornamental plant. Trade data cover fibres that are raw, prepared for spinning,
and tow and waste, including yarn waste and garnetted stock. Figures relate to
the total domestic production whether inside or outside the agricultural sector,
i.e. it includes non-commercial production and production from kitchen
gardens. Unless otherwise indicated, production is reported at the farm level.
(Source: FAOSTAT)

Sisal plant
Source: http://www.factfish.com/statistic-country/ethiopia/sisal%2C%20production%20quantity

Bast fibres

Source: http://www.factfish.com/statistic-country/ethiopia/bastfibres%2C%20others%2C%20production%20quantity