Using rattan and cane as alternative materials to wood in furniture production

Abstract

Ghana is experiencing continuous deforestation and degradation of its forest estate due to the unending high demand for wood and wood products for furniture and construction purposes. In the light of this, conservationists, furniture producers and researchers appear to be focusing their attention on exploring the utilization of non-timber forest materials particularly rattan and cane such as Calamus deeratus, Eremospatha hookeri etc. for the production of various kinds of furniture. Ghanaian furniture producers are also making frantic efforts in this direction but their successes and constraints have not been adequately assessed. Four specific objectives were considered in this study, namely to: assess the success levels of rattan and cane furniture production business; evaluate the processing constraints of the business, evaluate the marketing constraints of the rattan and cane business and the limitations of large scale production. The study which was limited to the industry’s players in Accra and Kumasi Metropolis, employed questionnaire and interviews as data collection instruments which enabled a broader spectrum of issues about the sector to be covered. It was found that majority of the respondents (i.e. from 75% to 86%) were between the ages of 40 years and 59 years and who had had only basic education with no training on rattan and cane. Results also indicated that rattan and cane furniture producers have chalked some successes in terms of increases in income generation. Additionally, the study revealed that lack of financial support, lack of access to information and opportunities for exchange of experiences and lack of adequate and appropriate technology are the major processing constraints of the producers. Furthermore the major marketing constraints were lack of technical and financial supports while the major limitation to large scale production was low prices of the products leading to low returns. It was therefore concluded that the rattan and cane furniture production, though not much attractive to the youth, has improved the economic lives of the producers but there are very important technical, processing and marketing challenges that need to be addressed to ensure growth and development. It was therefore recommended that the government of Ghana, through her relevant agencies should offer the needed technical training opportunities as well as financial support in addition to creating marketing opportunities such as trade fairs for the industry players. All these could enhance the activities and incomes of the producers and even more importantly attract the youth in order that all of them could contribute better towards the development of themselves, their communities and the nation at large.