Natural Products
Southern Africa has a wealth of natural products which could be traded to consumers in other parts of the world. An extensive study undertaken for RTFP by the Natural Resources Institute in the UK (NRI) which looked at the Baobab, Kigelia, Marula and Trichelia trees as well as Ximenia and the Kalahari Melon concluded that the trade had the potential to be worth over US$ 21 million per year (from a mere $ 58,500 in 2006) and could employ over 1.4 million households.
The full report from NRI on the trade in natural products is in two sections: looking at the market for natural products (including the types of products, identification of natural species, environmental issues etc) and the second part looks at possible trade constraints (covering regional trade; tariff and NTBs, product standards, certification etc). The study also incorporated two case studies on Baobab in Malawi and Marula in Namibia . the report, which was written in 2006 is substantial so a brief summary is also available
The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is aiming to develop the export trade in natural products from the southern African region and used the NRI study as the basis for their Natural Products Enterprise Programme. RTFP has financed the trade promotion component whereas other components were financed by the Kellogg Foundation and the ComMark Trust (also financed by DFID).
Under the trade promotion component, a Trade Officer was contracted by IUCN to lead the programme. Following work on tariff and non-tariff barriers, a series of commodity briefs were produced for trade negotiators, representatives and decision-makers:
Baobab Market Analysis and Product Information
Marula Market Analysis and Product Information
Kigelia Market Analysis and Product Information
Trichelia Market Analysis and Product Information
Ximenia Market Analysis and Product Information
Two specific reports on the potential existing in Namibia andZimbabwe were produced which confirmed the initial NRI conclusion that natural products could represent an important livelihood diversification strategy.
In relation to marketing strategies, a report was also produced on the opportunities for Baobab Pulp, Mongongo Oil and Mafura butter (the Baobab tree is well-known but perhaps not so well-known is the fact that the seeds of theTrichilia Emetica and the Mongongo trees produce rich oils which can be used as cosmetics) See Report on Baobab, Mafura & Mongongo
A case study on the Eudafano group of harvesters and processors was produced and a Final Report by IUCN was produced on the project of Jan 2008.
www.iucnsa.org.za – International Union for the Conservation of Nature
Natural Research Institution UK www.nri.org
www.commark.org
www.wkkf.org (W.K. Kellogg foundation)