Authors:Idris, M.A.M; Mohamad, A
Abstract:Bamboo had been noted as next to rattan in terms of economic importance, especially in Malaysia. The manufacturing of products such as blinds, chopsticks, mats and baskets, farming implements, scaffolding, houses and bridges are synonymous with the utilization of the resources by many Asian countries. In Malaysia, bamboo-based industries are more focusing on the production of skewers, chopsticks, toothpicks, furniture and craft [8] (Aminuddin and Abd. Latif, 1991). Besides the use of culms, another potential part, the use of which needs to be highlighted, is bamboo shoots. Bamboo shoots have been used widely in South East Asia asfood, especiallyin Thailand. There are no accurate data stated on the establishment of industriesrelated to bamboo shoots in Malaysia and it is assumed that thisresource is consumed only by local communitiesin rural areas. However, on looking at the trade in bamboo (crude vegetable material) including shoots, the imports are always exceeding exports (1990–1998) in an increasing trend. Although the value is not large, the demand of bamboo shoots from local communities has been increasing for many years, but due to lack of information on the supply of the resources and with no encouragement to industriesto invest in products related to shoots, imports of these items remain crucial to ful ll the demand. This study will determine the utilization status of bamboo shoots and its importance in terms of income generation to rural people, the supply scenario of the resources as well as its level of demand by consumers in the marketplace.
Keywords:Supply; marketing; demand.