PROMOTING COMMERCIAL PRODUCTION OF NON WOOD FOREST PRODUCTS (GUM ARABIC AND FRANKINCENSE)
AS ALTERNATIVE SOURCES OF INCOME FOR LOCAL COMMUNITES IN TURKANA COUNTY
BY
KENYA FORESTRY RESEARCH INSTITUTE (KEFRI), KENYA FOREST SERVICE (KFS) AND GUM ARABIC AND RESINS ASSOCIATION (GARA)
CONCEPT NOTE TO MINISTRY OF ENERGY, ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES, TURKANA COUNTY
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Overview of gums and resins sub-sector
Plant gums and resins from the drylands of Kenya are among key natural resources with potential to improve livelihoods of rural communities in terms of food security, income generation and foreign exchange earnings. These resources include gum arabic from Acacia senegal or Acacia seyal and commercial gum resins such as myrrh from Commiphora myrrha, hagar from Commiphora holtziana and Frankincense from Boswellia neglecta. Currently, gums and resins are produced in at least 7 ASAL Counties namely: Marsabit, Wajir, Garissa, Mandera, Turkana, Samburu and Isiolo. There are also a number of other counties such as Kitui and Meru with these resources.
Gums and resins have potential to generate wealth and uplift the living standards of the local communities in the dry lands. They are renewable resources that can be sustainably exploited for household income and still conserve biological diversity and ecosystem functions while increasing overall productivity of the land. They can also serve as raw materials for enterprise development thus providing opportunities for trade and employment generation. Gums (gum arabic) and resins (myrrh, hagar and frankincense), are articles of commerce both locally and internationally.
The current annual world demand for gum arabic is about 100,000 MT against a current supply of about 70,000 MT which is projected to reach 150,000 MT by 2020 (Muller and Okoro, 2004). The annual world demand for gum resins is estimated at around 2500 MT. Globally the resource potential of gums and resins far exceeds current levels of production. The potential production of gums and resins, export volumes and values are summarized in Table 1.
Table 1: Potential for gums and resins in Kenya
Commodity / Estimated annual production potential (MT) / Average annual production(MT) / Mean Annual Export volumes (MT) / Mean Annual Export Value
( Kshs)
Gum Arabic / 10,000 / 400-500 / 58.8 / 5,326,200
Gum resins / 5000 / 3500 / 2361 / 1,459,191,600
Total / 1,464,517,800
Apparently, the exports of gum arabic from Kenya are still very small relative to the resource potential (a peak of 460 MT in 1995) due to both the intrinsic properties of the gum and issues related to handling and post harvest processing. However, recent studies on Kenyan gum arabic has revealed very positive results pertaining to the intrinsic properties of gum arabic. Gum arabic from Kenya is produced from Acacia senegal var. keriensis. Acacia senegal var keriensis gum is significantly different from the Acacia senegal var senegal gum (standard type) produced from Sudan and other gum producing regions of Africa for example, Nigeria and Niger. One of the major differences of the Acacia senegal var keriensis gum from Kenya is that it has high specific rotation, high nitrogen content and a high molecular weight compared to the Acacia senegal var senegal gum. This leads to high viscosity, better emulsification and stabilization properties and high soluble fiber content. Approval in the UK and France of gum Arabic from Acacia senegal as a food dietary fiber is now well accepted thus Acacia senegal var keriensis can be added as an ingredient / dietary fiber due to its high fiber content. It is also used as a stabilizer/ thickener in viscous food such as yoghurt, cheese jam etc. Gum arabic is mainly used in the confectionery industry, where it is incorporated in a wide range of products i.e. it is used in chewing gum as a coating agent and as a pigment stabilizer. Acacia senegal var keriensis is an effective encapsulation agent because of its high water solubility, high viscosity, and emulsification properties. It is also used in the bakery industry due to its high moisture content and which make the baked product tenderer. It is therefore necessary to promote the Kenyan gum arabic for the above niche markets and continuing to invest in the capacity building of the producers, traders and exporters on post harvest handling of gum Arabic.
Between 2004 and 2011, two major regional projects (Acacia Operation Project and Acacia Gum project) were implemented in Marsabit, Samburu and Isiolo Counties with the aim to improve the gums and resins subsector and build capacity of producing communities. Kenya was one of the beneficiary countries. Recent efforts by KEFRI-GARA through the support of ACTs helped to empower gum producing communities in Isiolo, Wajir and Marsabit Counties with advocacy skills and establishment of Cooperative societies for bulking and marketing of the gums and resins. Results and important lessons have been documented. Some of the key achievements in this subsector include: Taxonomic, ecological and chemical characterization of gums and resins, characterization of soil physico-chemical properties of different varieties of A. senegal, preliminary resource assessment and mapping of gum and resin producing species in Kenya and the region, piloting of production and management of Acacia senegal trees and capacity building of extension agents and communities in some of the gum and resin producing counties in production, processing and marketing of gums and resins (Chikamai et al., 2010, Chikamai et al., 2007, Muga et al 2010, Chikamai, and Kagombe (2002), Chikamai, Gachathi, 1994, Chikamai, and Hall,, 1995, Chikamai, , 2001, FAO. 2005, Gachathi. 1994, Gachathi and Muga, 2009; Lelon et al., 2011).
2.0 JUSTIFICATION
Turkana County is endowed with Acacia senegal var kerensis and Boswellia neglecta which can be used to produce commercial gum arabic and frankinsense. Turkana County is also estimated to have the highest potential for gum arabic production (about 150 MT) in Kenya and of the type most sought after by the International market. This was recently confirmed through an appraisal of the sub-sector in the County (Chikamai, et al 2014). Though the communities in the County had been trained on sound harvesting and post-harvest handling techniques and producer associations formed in mid 2000 (2004-2008), through the support of FAO and Network for Natural Gums and Resins in Africa (NGARA), there has been a lapse in the follow up of the activities of these groups since this project ended. Infact most of the groups have disintegrated and are non-existent because of lack of a steady market for these products. This has resulted in irregular supplies of gum arabic from this County. Recent efforts by KEFRI-GARA through the support of ACTs only targeted Isiolo, Marsabit and Wajir Counties which are now slightly a head of Turkana County in terms of advocacy issues and commercialization of gum production through the cooperatives that have been established in these areas. It is therefore, critical that commercial production of gum Arabic be stimulated in Turkana County to take advantage of the existing global market in order to improve the livelihoods of the vulnerable local communities. In order to achieve this, it is necessary to establish the potential of gum Arabic and frankinsence production in the county through resource assessment and mapping. It is also essential that the capacity of the producers, traders and key instructions in the value chain be strengthened in order to enhance production of the commodities for the niche markets. It is estimated that through this initiative, the production levels of gums and resins will at least triple in the next two years leading to an expected income of Kshs. 145,761,734 in terms of exports (Table 2). This initiative will go therefore go along way in supporting MEENR, Turkana County in promoting non wood forest products for improved livelihoods of local communities and environmental conservation in line with the constitutional requirements on environment and Vision 2030.
Table 2: Estimated production and export volumes for gums and resins from Turkana County following training
Commodity / Estimated annual production potential (MT) / Average current production in Turkana County (MT) / Estimated Production (MT) / Estimated Export Value (Kshs)Gum arabic / Not known / 150 / 450 / 40,761,734
Gum resins / Not known / 100 / 300 / 105,000,000
Total / 145,761,734
3.0 OBJECTIVES
3.1 Broad objective
To stimulate commercial production of gum arabic and frankincense in Turkana county for local, national and international markets
3.2 Specific objective
1. To create awareness of the potential of gums and resins to 150 county government officials (MCAs, ward administrators, Chiefs and assistant Chiefs ) and other technical officers
2. To undertake a detailed resource assessment and mapping in the 7 sub-counties to establish the production potential of gum arabic and frankincense and map key production areas in the County.
3. To establish 30 gums and resins user groups in key prioritized wards producing gums and resins
4. To establish an umbrella county cooperative society to link producer groups to national and international markets
5. To train 1200 stakeholders (producers, traders, exporters, ward administrators and local administrators) from the selected 30 wards on production, post harvest handling and marketing of the commodities
6. To transfer research findings on production, harvesting , post harvest handling to local communities
3.3 Activities
1. Hold 1 awareness workshop for 150 key stakeholders and County officials in Lodwar
2. Carry out resource assessment and mapping of Acacia senegal and Boswellia neglecta in 7 sub-counties
3. Technical support for establishment and strengthening of producer groups through off site trainings.
4. Establishment of an Umbrella Cooperative Society for gums and resins at the County level in collaboration with Ministry of Tourism and Trade
5. Exhibition to link producers, cooperatives to markets (exporters) and policy makers.
6. Develop outreach materials (guidelines) on production, harvesting and post harvest handling of gums and resins
7. Establishment of 12 demo plots of Acacia senegal
4.0 IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY
Project activities will be coordinated from KEFRI Turkana Office and KFS (Turkana County) with support from expertise from other KEFRI centres, GARA and recently trained TOTs
5.0 TIME FRAME
Two and a half years (2.5 years): April 2015-June 2017
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5. Workplan and budget
Activity / Budget line / Budget(Kshs) / Timeframe
January 2015-June 2017
Q3 / Q4 / Q1 / Q2 / Q3 / Q4 / Q1 / Q2
1. Hold 1 awareness workshop for 150 key stakeholders and County Government officials in Lodwar
Technical team / Air tickets / 280,000
Facilitation / 160,000
Participants / DSA and transport / 1,350,000
Venue / Food and venue / 480,000
Transport / Hire/fuel / 59,200
Stationery and communication / 480,000
Sub-total / 2,809,200
2. Carry out resource assessment and mapping of Acacia senegal and Boswellia neglecta in 7 sub-counties / Experts, maps and reports / 9,500,000
3. Technical support for establishment and strengthening of producer groups through off site trainings.
Technical team / Air tickets / 4,480,000
Facilitation / 1,800,000
Participants / DSA and transport / 402,000
Venue / Refreshments / 150,000
Transport / Hire/fuel / 2,328,000
Stationery and communication / 600,000
Sub-total / 9,760,000
4. Establishment of an Umbrella Cooperative Society for gums and resins at the County level in collaboration with Ministry of Tourism and Trade
Technical team / Air tickets / 140,000
Facilitation / 160,000
Participants / DSA and transport / 450,000
Venue / Food and venue / 150,000
Transport / Hire/fuel / 59,200
Stationery, communication and administration for registration. / 60,000
Sub-total / 1,019,200
5. Exhibition to link producers, cooperatives to markets (exporters) and policy makers.
Technical team / Air tickets / 280,000
Facilitation / 800,000
Participants / DSA and transport / 1,800,000
Venue hire, tents, Public Address System, chairs, display tables / Food and venue / 1,500,000
Transport / Hire/fuel / 137,600
Stationery and communication / Exhibition materials (t-shirts, banners). / 480,000
Sub-total / 4,997,600
6. Develop outreach materials (guidelines) on production, harvesting and post harvest handling of gums and resins. / 500,000
7. Establishing demonstration plots in 12 wards (1ha) / Seedlings / 1,500,000
Fencing / 2,880,000
Labour for watering 2 years / 10,945,200
Sub-total / 15,325,200
GRAND TOTAL BUDGET / 43,911,200
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