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CAN BETTER MANAGEMENT AND PRODUCTION OF GUM-ARABIC IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICACONTRIBUTE TO REACHING THE MDGS?
By Didier Lesueur and Ben Chikamai
Approximately 55% of Africa ’s land surface is arid and semi-arid, characterized by an annual rainfall of 100-600 mm in a short wet season of 2-4 months. Land degradation, resulting from inappropriate land use is a common phenomenon. As Petheram et al. (this issue, P 39) state, the dry African forest covering much of this area is home to many of the world’s poorest people. Trees and shrubs, especially multipurpose species such as Acacia are essential to the survival of both people and animals in these harsh climatic conditions. Climate challenges are often aggravated by human-induced factors such as unsustainable agricultural practices, overgrazing and deforestation.
Reversing land degradation, whilst providing a source of income to the people living in these areas thus directly contributes to achieving Millennium Development Goals 1 (eradicating extreme poverty and hunger) and 7 (ensuring environmental sustainability). Indirect contributions to the health-related Millennium Development Goals are also likely.
Acacias dominate many of the semi-arid ecosystems of tropical Africa . They provide a source of fodder, fuel, timber and gum as well as a potential solution to the declining soil fertility caused by shortened fallow periods (as their fertilizing properties generally allow the soil to recover more rapidly than under natural fallows). Acacia senegal Willd is particularly interesting because it is the source of the multipurpose commodity gum-arabic which is traded on both local and international markets, and it is already used in several Sub-Saharan African agricultural production systems. As a raw product, gum-arabic is worth US$0.5 per kg to the local community. Families can collect up to 10 kg per day yielding a potential, and substantial income of US$150 per month.
Acacia senegal Willd is currently under utilized in Sub-Saharan Africa but has the potential to be incorporated into agricultural systems throughout the region. For this reason, we are aiming to obtain data that will promote gum-arabic production, while at the same time, encouraging the sustainable management of renewable natural tree resources, forest ecosystem restoration and conservation of biodiversity. A new research project - “Innovative management of Acacia senegal trees to improve resource productivity and gumarabic production in arid and semi-arid Sub-Saharan Africa ”, coordinated by CIRAD’s Forest Department (Dr Didier Lesueur) has recently been selected for funding by the International Cooperation Programme of the European Commission’s Directorate for Research.
This 4-year project will involve partners from Senegal , Niger , Cameroon , Kenya , UK , France and the Netherlands . It aims to enhance the sustainable management and use of natural Acacia senegal tree resources to improve livelihoods and the environment in arid and semi-arid Sub- Saharan Africa , both of which are extremely relevant for the MDGs. Results of these studies will be disseminated to other gum-arabic producing countries through the Network for Natural Gums and Resins in Africa (NGARA) which currently has a membership of 14 countries.
Gum-arabic production peaked at about 70,000 tons during the early 1970s, but fell to around 20,000 tons during the Sahel drought in the mid 1970s and 1980s. Although drought and insect attack affected many trees, an unreliable supply and unstable prices on the international market were believed to be the principal causes of the decline. Without equitable and secure rates of return for local producers, market instability is inevitable. Price fluctuations damage the international market and seriously undermine the prospects for sustainable production.
The European Community is the world’s largest gum-arabic importer (35,000 tons per year - ) and world imports have risen by 25% between 2000 and 2004 (Muller and Okoro, 2004). According to data available for 2002, the main gum producing and exporting countries were Sudan , Chad and Nigeria , accounting for 63% (34,162 MT), 20% (10,664 MT) and 12% (6,556MT) of world production, respectively (Muller and Okoro, 2004). Chad whose recent market share rose from 5% to nearly 30% within ten years, is evidence of how new competitors or small producers can successfully enter markets or expand their market share.
Gum quality can be compromised by collecting and mixing gums from different botanical sources and selling unprocessed material; there is also no organized tapping in most producing countries. Currently, the highest quality gum comes from Sudan . There is a tendency for producers to use gum from other sources when supplies are limited. This seriously reduces batch quality and acceptability for food uses and hence there is a need for guaranteed origins throughout the supply chain to maintain an authentic and high quality product. The development of a certification system will enhance marketing efforts and ensure the delivery of a quality product.
Where A. senegal trees are incorporated into agriculture, we can expect to see improved soil fertility through their nitrogen fixing capacity and breakdown of organic matter (see for instance Deans et al. 1999). Inoculating seedlings and adult trees can further stimulate the performance of nitrogen fixing trees and gum production Faye et al, 2005), and we believe that inoculations may point the way to the sustainable management of gum-arabic through improved soil fertility. Through our research, we are seeking to better understand this process and hope that these efforts can support the achievement of the first and seventh Millennium Development Goals.
References
Further information:
Didier Lesueur
Forest Department of CIRAD
Unit of Research (Ecosystems of Plantations)
Tropical Soil Biology and Fertility Institute of CIAT
World Agroforestry Centre
PO Box 30677
Nairobi, Kenya.
Email: didier.lesueur@cirad.fr / d.lesueur@cgiar.org
Ben Chikamai
The Network for Natural Gums and Resins in Africa (NGARA)
Kenya Forestry Research Institute, Karura
PO Box 64636-00620, Mobil Plaza,
Nairobi
Kenya.
Email: benchikamai@ngara.org.