Planting Four-Season Bamboo – Sowing Green, Building a Protective Belt, and Creating Sustainable Livelihoods for the A Luoi Community

30 July, 2026
ckcvietnam

From July 14 to 16, 2026, more than 3,800 four-season bamboo seedlings and 11 tons of fertilizer were distributed to 92 households living in landslide-prone areas along rivers and streams in A Luoi 1, A Luoi 2, and A Luoi 3 communes as part of the SODI-A Luoi Project.

Alongside the distribution of seedlings and fertilizer, the Project organized technical training sessions on bamboo planting and maintenance, with the active participation of local women:

July 14: Training and distribution of bamboo seedlings in A Luoi 1 and A Luoi 3 communes
July 15: Training and distribution of bamboo seedlings in A Luoi 2 commune
July 16: Field monitoring of planting activities, on-site technical support, assessment of the initial growth of the bamboo, and consolidation of implementation results.

By combining training with the provision of planting materials, the Project enables local people—especially women—to confidently apply proper planting and maintenance techniques and manage the bamboo model themselves. This approach helps strengthen livelihood capacity, improve seedling survival rates, and ensure the long-term sustainability of the initiative.

The selection of four-season bamboo was carefully considered because it is well suited to A Luoi’s natural conditions while providing both environmental and economic benefits:

Reducing landslide risks: Its extensive and deep root system helps stabilize soil, reduce erosion, and create a natural “green barrier” that protects riverbanks and streams.
Easy to cultivate: Fast-growing and moisture-loving, four-season bamboo thrives in the riverside and streamside soils of A Luoi.
Creating sustainable income: From the third year onward, each bamboo clump can produce approximately 60–80 kg of bamboo shoots per year, with an average yield of 40–60 tonnes per hectare annually.

After an establishment period of about eight months, the bamboo will begin producing its first shoots. Stable harvesting can be expected from the third year onward, and with proper care, the bamboo can remain productive for 10–15 years.

The bamboo planted today is gradually forming a green protective belt that will help safeguard land and residential areas across A Luoi, while also creating sustainable livelihood opportunities for highland communities in the years ahead.

Training and distribution of bamboo seedlings in A Luoi 1 commune

Training and distribution of bamboo seedlings in A Luoi 2 commune

Training and distribution of bamboo seedlings in A Luoi 3 commune

—

This activity forms part of the project “Enhancing the Role of Ethnic Minority Women through Ecosystem Transformation and Sustainable Livelihood Development in A Luoi” (the SODI–A Luoi Project), implemented during 2025–2029, funded by SODI (Solidaritätsdienst-international e.V.) and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). It is led by the Hue Union of Friendship Organizations (VUFO Hue), with Redtea Research and Development Technologies in Environment & Agriculture Co., Ltd. serving as the implementing partner for Livelihood Development Component. CKC leads the Environmental Awareness and Communication Components.

Through the establishment of riverside bamboo plantations, the Project aims to reduce disaster risks, protect agricultural land and residential areas, promote a greener local economy, and strengthen the role of ethnic minority women in sustainable community development.

All images in this article were taken with the consent of participants. Please contact the SODI-A Luoi Project Management Board before using any images for purposes beyond the Project’s communications.