Sustainability of the Bamboo Value Chain and Household Livelihoods in Busia County, Kenya

Abstract

Bamboo has increasingly gained recognition as a strategic non-timber forest product with considerable potential to contribute to sustainable rural development, poverty reduction, environmental conservation, and climate change mitigation. In Kenya, the bamboo sector has experienced growing interest due to its socio-economic and ecological benefits; however, empirical evidence on the sustainability of bamboo value chains and their contribution to household livelihoods remains limited, particularly in Busia County. This study assessed the sustainability of the bamboo value chain and its influence on household livelihoods in Busia County, Kenya. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design targeting households engaged in bamboo production, processing, marketing, and utilisation activities. Primary data were collected using structured questionnaires administered to sampled households, while secondary data were obtained from government reports, policy documents, and relevant scholarly literature. Data analysis involved descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation analysis, analysis of variance (ANOVA), and multiple regression techniques to determine the relationship between bamboo value chain sustainability and household livelihood outcomes. The findings revealed that bamboo value chain activities were predominantly undertaken by low-income households, highlighting the sector's importance as a livelihood strategy among economically vulnerable populations. Approximately 78.1% of respondents earned less than KES 10,000 per month, with 30.0% earning between KES 5,001 and 10,000, 28.1% earning between KES 1,001 and 5,000, and 20.0% earning below KES 1,000 monthly. Income generation emerged as the most significant livelihood benefit associated with bamboo value chain participation, cited by 82.4% of respondents, followed by employment creation (76.8%), value addition opportunities (64.3%), improved market access (61.5%), and environmental conservation benefits (58.7%). These findings underscore the multifunctional role of bamboo in supporting both socio-economic welfare and ecological sustainability. Correlation and regression analyses demonstrated a strong positive relationship between bamboo value chain sustainability and household livelihood outcomes. The regression model indicated that sustainability-related factors accounted for 62.0% of the variation in household livelihoods (R² = 0.62), signifying a substantial predictive influence. The study recommends increased investment in bamboo processing technologies, value addition infrastructure, and product diversification initiatives to enhance profitability and market competitiveness. Strengthening collaboration among farmers, processors, traders, cooperatives, government agencies, and development partners is necessary to improve value chain efficiency and market integration. Capacity-building programmes, extension services, and awareness campaigns should be expanded to enhance technical skills and adoption of improved bamboo production and processing technologies.