RATTAN PROCESSING

1.1 INTRODUCTION
Rattan belongs to the palm family (Arecales or Palmea) and is found from sea level up to
3,000 m. Around 600 species and 13 genera of rattan are known. Although most rattan species
are native to the tropical regions of Africa, Asia, and Australia, there is a large variety in their
distribution. Commercially-used rattan usually grows in hilly tropical areas, with a mean
annual temperature of 25° C and an annual rainfall of -2,000 mm. As a result, the main area
for rattan production is in the tropical regions of South and Southeast Asia.

There are different types of rattan palms, such as high or low climbers, single stemmed or
clustered rattan species. Some have very short and underground stems. Several rattan species
are known to reach lengths of 100m. Rattan sheaths have spines for protection, along with
‘whips’ that are also covered with spines. These play a major role in supporting the rattan as
it grows over trees and other plants in the rainforest.

Figure 1-1. Rattan Palm Tree. Image source: https://previews.123rf.com/images/. Date

accessed: 04/17/2020

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 1.1.1 Rattan Classification in Forest Products
Rattan is one of the Philippines’ most important non-timber forest products
(NTFP). Rattan belongs to a large subfamily of the climbing palms known as
Calamoideae, which grows throughout the country. Mainly because of the
strength, lightness, versatility, and pliability of its stems, rattan is widely used
by furniture and handicraft industries, making it an export winner for the
country.

Figure 1-2.Rattan Vines. Image source: https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/. Date accessed:

04/17/2020

1.1.2 Philippine Rattan Industry

The export volume of rattan poles from the Philippines amounted to almost 240 thousand
kilograms in 2017. Rattan is a type of climbing palm that has a slender stem. The leading
provinces in the country that produce them are Agusan del Sur, Palawan, Davao Oriental,
Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Norte, and Cagayan to name a few. Cebu used to be the heart of
rattan furniture making in the country, is now known for its fine wood and rattan furniture
works.

Figure 1-3.Rattan Weavers. Image source: https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/. Date

accessed: 04/17/2020

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1.2 RATTAN PROCESSING
1.2.1 Harvesting
Rattan harvesting is still literally by hand. The stem is cut as close to the ground as possible
and is pulled down. Since rattan clings to the canopy, pulling it down is a difficult task. The
larger portion of the rattan stem is often left in the canopy as waste. No mechanical devices
are used to pull down the rattan to obtain the maximum harvestable length.

Figure 1-4. Manual Harvesting of Rattan Vines. Image source:

https://blog.worldagroforestry.org/. Date accessed: 04/17/2020
Harvesting rattan in the Philippines is generally done during the dry season. From late May to
November or December, rattan gathering slows down or even stops except for gatherers who
do not have other sources of livelihood. Areas where harvestable rattan is located are now
much deeper into the forest, affecting the volume that each gatherer can bring out from the
forest and, consequently, his income.

1.2.2 Hauling, transportation and distribution

Hauling the poles from the cutting area to the roadside is basically manual labour. Since
gatherers do not own water buffaloes for carrying the poles down from the forest, they are
constrained to minimize their load. Thus poles are cut shorter than the desired length or are
split, resulting in a lower value of the materials.

Figure 1-5. Manual Hauling of Rattan Vines. Image source:

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/c4/. Date accessed: 04/17/2020

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When transported, rattan often must pass through a number of checkpoints. In most instances
these checkpoints constitute expense points. This increases its price, which is passed on to
the buyers.

1.2.3 Sorting, scraping, drying and grading

Manual sorting is often inaccurate and leads to re-scaling by Government authorities and the
buyers. Hand-scraping is a slow process and often non-uniform. There are no drying facilities
at the contractors' or at the licensees' level. Sun-drying is the most common practice, but
often leads to staining and damage by borers, thus degrading the materials.

Figure 1-6. Sun drying of Rattan Vines. Image source:

https://d2ouvy59p0dg6k.cloudfront.net/img/original/the_process_of_drying_out_the_rattan.
Date accessed: 04/17/2020

A national standard (PNS 229-1999) has been approved in 1999 for rattan poles and rattan by-
products. Product standards in the Philippines are not mandatory and the Bureau of Product
Standards relies mainly on the acceptance of the standards by the stakeholders.

1.3 RATTAN BY-PRODUCTS

Rattan is a naturally renewable palm that grows in the tropical regions of Africa, Asia and
Australasia, and is used for furniture, handicrafts, and building material among others. Rattan
continues to be an invaluable part of rural people’s livelihoods in South and Southeast Asia.
Rattan is used for a range of purposes:

 Food: The inner core as well as the shoot of some of the rattan species is edible.
 Furniture: Furniture is the main end product of rattan.
 Shelter: Rattan is an approved material for house building in rural areas.
 Handicraft: Handicraft, besides furniture, provides the main income of the rattan
industry.

1.3.1 Building Material

Rattan is a material that can be applied to the building, this material is the same as wood,
which makes the difference is its material is light, hard, elastic and solid. This material is

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easily curved and can withstand a certain load. Rattan also has a distinctive color and make a
material will be beautiful. It can be a building material for any architectural components.

(a) Exterior Design (b) Interior Design

Figure 1-7. Rattan Architectural House. Image source:

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/a5/b7/4e/. Date accessed: 04/17/2020

1.3.2 Rattan Handicrafts

Many of the properties of rattan that make it suitable for furniture also make it a popular
choice for handicraft and art pieces. Rattan’s flexibility, strength and durability make it
perfect for crafts and all other artistic items. Expert craftsmanship of a lot of natives brings
out the true beauty of this plant. Most museums showcase some of the brilliant works and
items made out of it. 

(a) Rattan baskets (b) Native Rattan Bags of Buluan

Figure 1-8. Rattan Crafts. Image sources: https://a.cdn-hotels.com/gdcs/production172 /,

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images. Date accessed: 04/17/2020

1.3.3. Rattan Furniture

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Its popularity as a material for furniture both outdoor and indoor is unmistakable. Able to be
bent and curved, rattan takes on many wonderful curving forms. Its light, golden color
brightens a room or outdoor environment and instantly conveys a feeling of a tropical paradise.

As a material, rattan is lightweight and almost impervious and is easy to move and handle. It
can withstand extreme conditions of humidity and temperature and has a natural resistance to
insects.

(a) Rattan table & chair (b) Rattan Hanging Chair

Figure 1-9. Rattan Furniture. Image sources:
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/proxy/8b7V6Mc_Up0u7dB_qEojcGjYC2GxJJpbJ,
https://www.wovenfurnituredesigns.com/. Date accessed: 04/17/2020
1.3.4. Sports Equipment
Arnis is the national martial art of the Philippines. The sticks used in Arnis/Eskrima are called
'yantok' and commonly known as rattan sticks, as they are made from the rattan palm. They
are very strong and lightweight. 
Sepak takraw, or kick volleyball, is a sport native to Southeast Asia. Sepak takraw differs from
the similar sport of foot volley in its use of a rattan ball and only allowing players to use their
feet, knee, chest and head to touch the ball. 

(a) Arnis Sticks (b) Sepak takraw ball

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 Figure 1-10. Sports Equipment. Image sources: https://www.arnismartialarts.com/,
https://live.staticflickr.com/3138/. Date accessed: 04/18/2020

1.4 MACHINE/EQUIPMENT FOR RATTAN PROCESSING

Rattan processing machines/equipment are used to prepare raw rattan canes/poles for use in
manufacture of handicrafts, furniture and other products. These include the following:

1.4.1 Cane Straightening Machine

The rattan is straightened for easier processing in the succeeding steps of production. 
Straightening involves the following operations:
• Heat the curvature in the pole to be straightened with a blow torch for 20-30 seconds.
• To minimize scorching or burn marks on the rind of the pole distribute the heat slowly and
evenly by rotating the work piece.
• Once sufficiently heated the pole may be straightened by applying a pressure at the curves
with the use of a straightening machine.

Figure 1-11. Rattan Cane Straightening Machine. Image sources:

https://2.imimg.com/data2/. Date accessed: 04/18/2020

1.4.2 Sizing Machine

A sizing machine is used to scrape the poles of their outer skin and nodal bulges. The machine
produces cylindrical poles with uniform diameter.

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 Figure 1-12. Rattan Sizing Machine. Image sources: https://i.ytimg.com/vi/. Date accessed:
04/18/2020

1.4.3 Splitting Machine

This machine is primarily used to split the rattan pole into strip with certain width. There is a
wide application in furniture industry as the split rattan poles can make different
architectural and fashion designs in the products to become more aesthetically pleasing.

Figure 1-13. Rattan Splitting Machine. Image sources:

https://myanmarhandicrafts.wordpress.com/. Date accessed: 04/18/2020

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 REFERENCES
INDUSTRY.GOV.PH (n.d). Securing The Future Of Philippine Industries: Furniture.
Retrieved April 17, 2020 from: http://industry.gov.ph/industry/furniture/.
ITTO. (n.d). Kiln Drying of Rattan. Retrieved April 18, 2020 from:
http://www.itto.int/files/itto_project_db_input/2561/Technical/TG%20No.%204%20Kiln
%20drying%20of%20rattan.pdf.
Master Crafter. (2011). Versatile Uses and Features of Rattan Poles. Retrieved April 17,
2020 from: http://rattancraft.com/versatile-uses-and-features-of-rattan-poles.
Sanchez, Martha Jean. (April 2020). Export Volume Rattan Poles Philippines 2008-2017.
Retrieved April 17, 2020 from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1035546/export-
volume-rattan-poles-philippines/.
Taylor, Lisa Hallett (2019). All About Rattan and Rattan Furniture. Retrieved April 18,
2020 from: https://www.thespruce.com/what-is-rattan-furniture-made-from-2736315.
USAID. (February 2006). FRAME: PHILIPPINES RATTAN VALUE CHAIN STUDY. Retrieved
April 17, 2020 from https://aboutphilippines.org/files/Rattan-FRAME-Final.pdf
World Wide Fund For Nature (WWF). (2010). Rattan Facts. Retrieved April 17, 2020 from
http://greatermekong.panda.org/our_solutions/projects/sustainablerattan/factsinformatio
n/.

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