Agroindeba is another bamboo plantation of approximately fifty hectares, nursery, and furniture factory. It is run by a local named Manuel Retana. Sixty years ago Manuel’s grandfather planted less than one hectare of bamboo and today this family operation has grown to around fifty hectares. These species include Phyllostachys aurea, Dendrocalamus giganteus, and a variety of Guadua. Manuel said it is a good idea to have more then one species in order to avoid complete loss in case of flowering.

As far as production, about 10,000 culms per hectare are harvested each year which are made into twenty five different types of furniture. Since there are relatively no problems with insects within these species, this factory uses no agro chemicals or chemical preservation. The furniture is made in the factory and then sent to various distributors who sell the furniture to tourists, hotels, and restaurants. The majority of the consumers of this type of furniture are Costa Ricans, however there is a great potential for entering the international market for export.

Bamboo plants in the nursery of Agroindeba.