Woven vs Non-Woven Bamboo: Which Pays Tasikmalaya Artisans More?

Image: article cover, from Tri et al. (2020), Jurnal Wasian, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

A research team from the Agroforestry Technology Research and Development Centre examined bamboo processing and added value in Tasikmalaya Regency, West Java. The findings show that bamboo processed into handicrafts yields far greater added value than selling it as raw culms. The study was published in Jurnal Wasian in 2020.

Local communities process bamboo into two product groups. Woven products include sieves, boboko rice baskets, haseupan steamers, hihid fans, nyiru winnowing trays, pipiti containers, picnic baskets and parcel hampers. Non-woven products include money boxes, keyrings, drinking glasses, wall clocks, lampshades, invitation boxes, bowls, cups, frames, teapots, letter boxes and tissue boxes. According to the study, the average added value of woven products is around Rp131,197, whereas non-woven products reach Rp1,439,742. In other words, the added value of non-woven products is far higher.

Nevertheless, more artisans engage in woven household products because the market is already established, stable and broader in reach. Conversely, the market for non-woven products is smaller and more specialised. A single bamboo culm is valued at only Rp10,000 to Rp50,000, so the study recommends selling bamboo as processed products rather than raw material. For communities around forests, these findings confirm that processing bamboo into handicrafts can be a better source of income.

Source and how to cite

This story is based on the research article Processing and Added Value of Bamboo in Tasikmalaya, West Java by Tri Sulistyati Widyaningsih Tri, Eva Fauziyah Eva and Devy Priambodo Kuswantoro Devy, published in Jurnal Wasian Vol. 7 No. 1 (2020). The full article is free to read on the Jurnal Wasian website.

Cite the original article (APA 7):

Tri, T. S. W., Eva, E. F., & Devy, D. P. K. (2020). Processing and Added Value of Bamboo in Tasikmalaya, West Java. Jurnal Wasian, 7(1), 51–63. https://doi.org/10.62142/grxa7t25

If you use these findings in coursework, a thesis or other writing, cite the original article above, not this news story. The original article is licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.