Savusavu, Fiji – 9 September 2026 – For Ratu Manasa Cole, bamboo started as an unfamiliar idea.

A carpenter by trade from Vatulele in Wailevu, Cakaudrove, Manasa had spent much of his working life seeking livelihoods through carpentry. His journey into bamboo began after connecting with a construction company working to promote bamboo planting, where he was introduced to bamboo cultivation by Arno Roos, owner of Pacific Ark.

At first, Manasa was hesitant.

“I initially had doubts because I wasn’t used to seeing bamboo planted like that in Fiji,” he recalls.

In his community, bamboo was not widely viewed as a crop with significant economic or environmental value. Traditional perceptions and discouraging voices made it difficult for him to see planting bamboo as a viable livelihood.

But Manasa decided to keep going.

His interest grew through visits to Tomasi Vakadranu’s bamboo operation at the Bamboo Park in Namosi, where he gained further knowledge and practical experience. With continued training from Arno Roos, he began experimenting with bamboo on his own land eventually moving beyond planting to construction.

His work has since included the construction of a play centre at Urata Kindergarten School, a bus stop, and a market at Da Roko and Dreketi.

For Manasa, bamboo is more than a building material. It is a pathway towards healthier land, stronger communities, and greater resilience.

From 200 Shoots to an Agroforestry Farm

Manasa’s bamboo journey began with 200 bamboo shoots collected from Waisale. The variety, Bambusa balcooa, commonly known as rock bamboo or bitu vatu, proved challenging to establish. Of the 200 shoots planted, only 130 survived.

Rather than seeing the losses as failure, Manasa used them as lessons.

His agroforestry farm has since expanded to include three varieties of bamboo alongside other crops and trees. He has successfully planted 115 mahogany trees, 60 banana plants and cocoa, with 30 of the 50 cocoa seedlings he initially planted surviving.

He has also introduced Bambusa vulgaris, known locally as bitu ni vavalagi, and Bambusa spinosa, or bitu votovotowa. The farm currently includes 26 variegated bamboo plants and 16 yellow bamboo plants grown in black plastic bags.

The result is an emerging agroforestry system where bamboo is grown alongside food crops and timber trees, demonstrating how land can be used productively while supporting environmental restoration.

Bamboo as a Tool for Restoring the Land

One of Manasa’s strongest motivations is the condition of the soil in his home area.

He has witnessed land losing nutrients and becoming increasingly difficult to farm. For him, bamboo offers an opportunity to help restore the health of the land while reducing erosion and creating future opportunities for communities.

“I hoped and believed that bamboo is something valuable that can revive the land, prevent soil erosion, and also make home building affordable for the people back in the villages,” he says.

His vision extends beyond his own farm.

Manasa dreams of restoring the soils of Vatulele and Muanivatu so that the land can once again support productive farming, as it did for previous generations.

He sees agroforestry as one pathway towards achieving that vision.

“My biggest dream is to restore the soil of our land in Vatulele in Muanivatu so it can become a vibrant land once again, just like the elders of the past used to farm where the soil was rich and bore good fruit.”

Changing the Way Communities See Bamboo

The journey has not been without resistance.

Manasa says one of the biggest challenges was not the bamboo itself, but the mindset surrounding it.

When he first started planting, he heard comments questioning whether bamboo would provide anything for his family. With few people around him planting bamboo commercially, it was easy to doubt whether he was making the right decision.

But as the bamboo grew, so did his confidence.

He began seeing its potential to protect soil, reduce erosion, provide construction material, and contribute to livelihoods.

For Manasa, changing perceptions is now an important part of his work.

He believes that people must be willing to pursue new ideas even when others do not immediately understand them.

A Vision for a Bamboo Future

Manasa now has ambitions that extend well beyond his own farm.

He wants to become a pioneer in bamboo planting in Vatulele, Muanivatu, Savusavu and ultimately Fiji.

One of his biggest goals is to establish a bamboo Information Centre where people can learn about bamboo cultivation, construction, and its many uses.

He envisions the centre itself being built from bamboo, with bamboo products displayed and available for visitors to see and purchase.

It would be more than a building; it would be a place for learning, demonstration, and inspiration.

For a farmer who once questioned whether bamboo could have a place in Fiji, the vision represents a remarkable change.

A Message to Fiji’s Youth

Manasa’s story ultimately comes back to one message: do not give up on a good idea simply because others doubt it.

He acknowledges that planting bamboo comes with challenges, from learning how to cultivate it to dealing with failed plantings and discouraging comments.

But he believes the rewards can be significant, for the land, for livelihoods and for future generations.

His message to Fiji’s youth is simple: have a dream, work towards it and do not allow negative voices to determine your future.

“If you have a dream, strive for it, keep your eyes on it, work hard to achieve it, and do not pay attention to discouraging words and negative energy from people around you.”

From 200 bamboo shoots, many of which did not survive – Manasa has built more than an agroforestry farm.

He has built a vision.

A vision where bamboo can help restore Fiji’s soils, protect communities from erosion, provide affordable construction materials, create livelihoods and inspire a new generation to see value in the resources growing around them.

For Ratu Manasa Cole, bamboo is no longer simply a plant.

It is a pathway to healing the land