ABSTRACT
The objectives
of the present study were: 1) to identify the prioritized marketable natural products
(NPs) from agroforestry systems (AFS), and 2) to conduct market value chain analyses
of the most important and prioritized NPs to identify markets and marketing channels;
actors, functions and characteristics; constraints and opportunities to entry and
growth; opportunities for value addition, and conduct analysis of strengths, weaknesses,
opportunities and threats (SWOT analysis). The study was conducted in the Refugees’
camps and their hosting communities in Eastern Sudan. Using the participatory value chain analysis
(PVCA) approach, it was found that communities in the project sites
obtained a multiplicity of NPs for sustenance and for increasing their incomes.
Eight products were identified and ranked as the most important NPs with greatest
opportunities for enterprise development at the community level. These are: gum
Arabic, honey, fodder, non-timber forest products (NTFPs) and tree seeds. Gum Arabic has been shown to score higher ranks
in terms of a) marketability b) ecological suitability (availability), c) social
suitability, and d) potential for value addition. The results show that marketing
of gum Arabic in the study site is characterized by a large number of producers
and relatively few traders and companies work through seven marketing channels.
The results demonstrate that in the customary marketing channel there is an upward
skewed benefit distribution among the value chain actors. The total relative commercialization
margin was 80% indicating that “traders” accrued higher proportion, while “producers”,
receive less income (20%) of the end market price. Poor land security, one-sided
prices, taxes and levies, lack of finance and appropriate skills are major impediments
to gum commodity growth and development. One of the most important opportunities
for growth and entry of Gum Arabic are: it is natural organic product and thus well-fit
for fair trade, environmentally sustainable and organic market development. Numerous
opportunities exist in the site for value addition and distribution synergies and
gender-specific development, including that gum Arabic has high synergy with natural
resource management and other sectors for enhancing regional and national growth.
The study concludes that Gum Arabic production and marketing is financially profitable
for producers, traders and companies and has the potential to open new markets and
bring new opportunities to smallholder farmers. However, technical, financial, and
institutional support could result in an increase in local actors’ income and contribute
to sustainability of the supply of the product.