Fiber Plants of Africa and their Usage㧨ࠣ࡟࡯ᢥሼ㧪JAICAF ࡠࠧJapan Association࡮࡮࡮࡮Interantional࡮࡮࡮
Agriculture࡮࡮࡮

March 2010

Japan Association for International Collaboration ofAgriculture and Forestry

Preface
The mention of the word "fibers" may bring immediately to mind cotton fabrics and jute bags.

However,these represent only a small portion of the group of plant fiber resources that are processed for variety ofuseful articles such as bags, coops, baskets, and strings for domestic use. Other useful plants that belong
to the “fiber” group include bamboo, abaca, rattan among others that play important roles in ourlivelihoods. These plant resources have been developed in various parts of the world using different
techniques, based on the immediate needs of that society, and the society plays a leading role in theproduct development. The products that are derived are also used in diverse ways in various parts of theworld.
This study is intended to find the sources for increasing income and livelihood improvements, and its
approach is based on the knowledge of plants and the utilization techniques that have been developed invarious areas. Most of these products are rural based and can be developed into big business that canincrease the income and livelihood of the rural folks. However, there is a big gap in the information flow
with regards to opportunities for product development. Most of the rural dwellers are poor and could
improve their livelihood from the plant fiber industry. Unfortunately, the raw material base is fastdisappearing from the natural forests and the sustainability of the industry should be addressed
immediately. There is the need to find ways of increasing the raw material base and develop new
products to increase the income of the rural poverty.
During this study, various professionals such as research scientists in forestry and agriculture, arts andculture, rural development, and agricultural distribution, cultural anthropologists, interior designers,craftsmen, fabric designers, kente weavers, and tradesmen, made various contributions. The report
therefore represents a synthesis of information from processors, designers and marketers of fiber andfiber products from various societies and how these products affect their livelihood.
This English version was prepared by the Association by summarizing the Japanese report.
It is our hope that this report will be useful to the general public and various government agencies
especially in the developing countries, who are interested in improving the livelihood of rural folks.
The field survey conducted in Ghana would not have been successful without the cooperation of thefollowing persons and institutions in Ghana, who provided us with invaluable information. Consequently,
we wish to express our sincere gratitude to Dr. A. B. Salifu, Director General, Council for Scientific andIndustrial Research (CSIR), Dr. S. K. Dery, Deputy Director, Oil Palm Research Institute, Kusi, Dr.
Victor Kwame Agyeman, Director, Forest Research Institute, Kumasi and Dr. Oteng Amoako, also ofForest Research Institute of Ghana, CSIR, Dr. Stephen Nutsugah, Acting Director, Savanna Agricultural

Research Institute, CSIR, Ms. Mariam Mensah, Director, Ghana Export Promotion Council, Upper EastRegional Office, Mr. Eric Anthony Afram, Regional Manager, National Board of Small Scale Industry,
Upper East Regional Office, Mr. Emanuel Kumi Andoh, Lecturer, Takoradi Polytechnic, Prof Asante,Head, Department of Botany, University of Ghana, Mr. Daniel K. Abbiw, former Senior Technician andMr. John Amponsah, Senior Technician, all of the Department of Botany, University of Ghana, Mr.
Joseph Yaw Appiah-Gyapong, Manager, Corporate Monitoring & Evaluation, Ghana Forest Commission,
Mr. Tahiru, President, Tahiru Fabulous Enterprise, Ms. Asare-Adu Gloria, President, Global Bamboo
Products Limited, Mr. Abura Mensa, President, Pioneer Bamboo Limited, Mr. Tahiru Aberinga, Director,
Nyariga Craft Society.
We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the research team, authors of books we sourced
information which was duly acknowledged, and those who provided us with invaluable information fromdifferent parts of the world, various diplomatic and trade missions, JICA Head Office in Tokyo, andGhana Office (Accra).
We are grateful for the financial assistance and support we received from the Japanese Government.
Finally, this report was prepared under the guidance of this Association and does not necessarily represent
the position of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan or the Japanese Government.

March 2010
Japan Association for International Collaboration of Agriculture and Forestry
Hisao Azuma, President

Authors
Technical Editor

TAKANE Tsutomu, Dr., Professor
Department of International Agricultural Development,
Tokyo University of Agriculture

ISEKI Kazuyo, Dr., Professor
Crafts Department, Osaka University of ArtsITO Shinichi, Associate Professor
Department of Industrial, Interior, and Craft Design, College of Arts and Design,Musashino Art University

OGAWA Shinji, Consultant (forestry)
KANETANI Miwa, Dr., JSPS Research Fellow (Cultural Anthropology)
National Museum of Ethnology

KATSURA Chikako, Ex. Ghana volunteer
Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers

KAWAGUCHI Eriko, Expert
JICA (dyed fiber)

SUZUKI Kunihiko, Dr., Former Professor
Department of Bioproduction Technology,
Junior College of Tokyo University of Agriculture

HARADA Koh, Chairman
Association for International Promotion of Agricultural Co-operatives

TAKAHATA Tsuneo, Director, Second Operations Department
Japan Association for International Collaboration of Agriculture and Forestry

NISHIYAMA Akiyo, Assistant Director, Second Operations Department
Japan Association for International Collaboration of Agriculture and Forestry

Members of the Committee for the Higher Income Agriculture:
Fiber Plants of Africa
Chairperson:

TAKANE Tsutomu, Dr.,  Professor, Department of International Agricultural Development,  Tokyo University of Agriculture
ISEKI Kazuyo, Dr.,  Professor, Crafts Department, Osaka University of ArtsITO Shinichi  Associate Professor, Department of Industrial, Interior, and Craft Design,  College of Arts and Design, Musashino Art University
KANETANI Miwa, Dr.,  JSPS Research Fellow (Cultural Anthropology),National Museum of Ethnology
KAWAGUCHI Eriko,  Expert, JICA (dyed fiber)
ONWONA-AGYEMAN Siaw, Dr.,  Associate Professor, Institute of Symbiotic Science & Technology,  Tokyo University of Agriculture & Technology

Members of the Field Survey in Ghana
ITO Shinichi
KANETANI Miwa, Dr.
KWABENA Ofosu-Budu, Dr.,
Senior Research Fellow, College of Agric. & Consumer Sciences,
University of Ghana
TAKAHATA Tsuneo
Director, 2nd Operations Department, JAICAF

Contents
Chapter 1 Background of the Research ···································· TAKANE Tsutomu, NISHIYAMA Akiyo ······· 1Chapter 2 Use of Fibers in Africa················································································ ISEKI Kazuyo ······· 42-1 Historical records and a summary of the fiber materials used for fabrics······································· 42-2 Historical records of fabrics and the fibers used············································································ 62-3 Use of fibers for fold plaiting ········································································································ 112-4 Summary······································································································································· 13
Chapter 3 Use of Fiber Plants in Ghana and Commercial Possibilities
3-1 Current State of the Use of Fiber Plants ························································································ 173-1-1 Materials for baskets, mats, and textiles··············································· KANETANI Miwa ······· 173-1-2 Materials for baskets and furniture – with palm and bamboo as the core ····· ITO Shinichi ······· 24
3-2 Improvement on the best use of raw materials ·············································································· 33
3-2-1 Design and technical recommendations for baskets, mats, and dyed fabrics··········································································································· KANETANI Miwa ······· 33
3-2-2 Design and technical recommendations for handicrafts································ ITO Shinichi ······· 36
3-2-3 Living in Africa in a cool environment using everyday natural materials - Cool Africa········································································································· TAKAHATA Tsuneo ······· 41
Chapter 4 Sale of Fiber Plant Products for Increased Income
4-1 The Case of Bolga Basket Production ······················································· KATSURA Chikako ······· 43
4-2 Role of Producers Associations and Distribution Reform································· HARADA Koh ······· 51
4-3 Development of Agricultural Villages through Utilization of Local Resources················································································································· TAKAHATA Tsuneo ······· 614-4 Fair Trade of Fiber Products········································································ TAKANE Tsutomu ······· 65
4-5 On-Site Report of Development of Fiber Products - The Case of Oudomxay, Laos················································································································ KAWAGUCHI Eriko ······· 70
Chapter 5 Fiber Plants and Their Cultivation
5-1 Fiber Plants of Africa ·················································································· SUZUKI Kunihiko ······· 74
5-2 Transformation from Gathering from the Wild to Cultivation - Using rattan as an example························································································································ OGAWA Shinji ······· 84

Chapter 11)

Background of the ResearchPreface - What is high profitability?

The purpose of this project is to examine the policies for securing profitability and improvements and thefuture prospects for fiber plants and processed products in Africa, including the sustainable utilization ofnatural resources. The theme of this research project is "high profitability." To achieve this objective,
this research project examines how the improvement of profitability can be realized in a series of stepsfrom the acquisition of raw materials, processing, and sale of products, as well as production andharvesting. This research project has also been implemented for the purpose of increasing profits indaily economic activities of regional residents and resident organizations, thereby improving theirlivelihoods. Therefore, the examination commenced by focusing on the plants and the products forwhich the environment and technology already exist within the region, rather than introducing newtechniques from outside of the region.
Fiber products in Africa represent materials and designs specific to Africa and they are used in everyday
life. Using such traditional materials and designs as the starting point, there is a possibility for fiber
plant products to contribute to improving the income level of rural communities by devising suitableprocesses and sales.
The quality and sales methods vary depending on the local market, urban market, or overseas market.
By organizing these methods and taking an approach suitable for each market, values at a new level canbe created, thereby improving the profits.
Production methods with minimal environmental impact have been in the worldwide focus for somelength of time now. At the same time, local identities and cultural diversity have been more appreciatedand customers who value such features are gradually increasing. What should be done to respond tosuch expectations? How can a sustainable livelihood improvement of developing countries beachieved? In this report, "high profit" refers to the entity that enables a sustainable livelihood including
the relationship between fiber plants and people as well as profit.
2)

Fiber plants as local resources

This research project targets the full spectrum of fiber "plants" including useful plants that are collected
and used from nature, as well as fiber "crops" that are cultivated. All over the world, various fiber"plants" including fiber "crops" that are represented by cotton and its industry have been used for various
purposes. In Africa also, wide varieties of fiber plants are used for binding tools such as ropes andstrings, materials for baskets and bags, furniture and farm tools.
Most of these fiber plants grow naturally in forests and the savannah or are cultivated, and have beenclosely related to the lifestyle of the people since ancient times. Items that function in the same way canbe seen in each area such as dyed textile products and baskets; however, the plants that are used differ
slightly and plants that grow naturally in each local environment are used. That is, people obtainvarious plant resources from the environment of their inhabited areas and have utilized these resources.
Such an attempt to evaluate the economic values of non-timber resources is being practiced in eachregion.

 3)Significance of targeting fiber plants

In this project, fiber plants were selected as the research target because as regional resources, theirutilization has the potential to improve the livelihood of the people of developing countries and theiroverall economic development. The possibility can be realized at three different levels.
The first level is income improvement and livelihood stability at the micro level such as the cottage
industry. Recently, in developing countries, many residents have shifted their main livelihood activities
from agriculture to non-agricultural economic activities due to the scale of the risks related to agriculturalproduction. This trend is particularly prominent in the rural communities in Africa. Under suchcircumstances, utilization, processing, and sales of fiber plants contribute to the improvement of theincome levels of individual families as well as the establishment of a stable livelihood throughdiversification of income sources. That is, these trends lead to an overall reduction of the risks ofearning a livelihood by providing an alternative income source to agricultural production that may
experience sluggish periods due to bad weather, as well as providing a simple increase of cash income
through the sales of fiber plant products.
The second level is the development of local industries that have evolved under certain conditions ofgeographical expansion. In developing countries, in many cases, the latent demand for indigenous
products specific to the area cannot be uncovered even though such a demand exists, as the informationon the products or the producing region has not sufficiently reached the demand side. In particular,
there is potential for expanding the sales channel of the fiber plant products that have been developed andinherited under the specific natural environments or traditional culture of the regions domestically and in
the overseas markets. Unlike high-return crops such as fresh vegetables and fruits whose freshness isthe decisive factor, fiber plant products have fewer handicaps at the distribution stage even in the rural
areas where transport infrastructure has not been developed. By expanding the production and sales that
promote the features of these fiber plant products, the lead for economic vitalization of the entire region
can be captured.
The third level is the promotion of industry diversification at the national level. Many African
governments try to promote diversification of domestic industries in order to break away from theeconomic structure that relies on a small number of cash crops that have been retained from the colonialera. In reality, however, progress in the diversification of domestic industries is very slow in the poor
countries that have no underground mineral resources and thus do not have many choices. Under thesecircumstances, the utilization of fiber plant products as local resources deserves examination as ameasure for the diversification of domestic industries for the poor countries that have only limitedchoices.
4)

Structure of this reportIn this report, this Chapter (Chapter 1) clearly indicates the background and purposes and Chapter 2
historically reviews the actual state of use of fibers in Africa. Chapter 3 clarifies the actual state of useof fiber products in the modern age based on the result of the field survey that was conducted in Ghana.
Actual improvements necessary for individual products are suggested as well as an examination ofvarious aspects of fiber products such as raw material procurement, manufacturing, and sales. Chapter 4
discusses the various aspects that are required for the promotion of the use and sales of fiber products,
such as the organizations, systems, and markets. To develop the use and sales of fiber products in a sustainable manner, the production and collection of fiber plants, which are the raw materials, must becontinued without affecting the environment. To achieve this, the environment for growing fiber plants
as raw materials and the cultivation are discussed in Chapter 5.