The Calabash Research and Development Institute (CRDI) is pioneering the commercial utilization of the calabash gourd material for standard construction purposes. The Calabash gourd plant, Lageneria Siceraria, is a prostrate or climbing vine. The varieties of the plant produces fruits with varied globose or cylindrical shapes and sizes. The fruits when mature, dries into a hard and hollow thick or thin woody shell that has double skin layers. The surface skin is smooth, thin and hard. The under – layer is a thicker cork-like layer.

Due to the strength of the mature dry gourd, some varieties are used crudely in their natural form as percussion musical instruments. The skin of some varieties are carved and used as interior decoration items. The gourds are also used as containers to store water, milk and wine etc. and as domestic utensils such as eating bowls, spoons and cups. Other uses depend on the requirement. The toughness and aesthetic qualities of the calabash gourd material, makes it a potential and valuable construction material that has been constrained by its natural curvature shape.

The Calabash Research and Development Institute has developed a commercial bio-facturing technique that will be used by farmers to grow and convert the calabash gourd fruits into flat and stable tile boards[bashboard] and other interesting products without the use of emission – producing manufacturing machines. The embossable boards will be used as decorative panels for interiors construction and decoration purposes and for the construction of packaging boxes and various products.

The simple low cost technology of producing boards from the calabash gourd will form the bases for a whole new multi-sector industry that will provide livelihood for the farmers and businesses for the secondary producer enterprises and companies that will further provide employment for millions in the calabash growing countries and in other parts of the world where the material will be used. New skills and work will also evolve.

The new Calabash board industry will be very useful in alleviating poverty while providing sustainable development in poor agrarian countries.