SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF AFRICAN NATURAL PLANT PRODUCTS

Abstract

The development of sustainable agricultural businesses in high-value niche sectors can stimulate agricultural growth that could improve the livelihoods of rural Africa and have a multiplier effect on the rest of the economy. The natural plant product (NP) industry is one that can offer higher income and niche markets for resource limited farmers in developing countries compared to traditional agronomic crops. However, the NP industry is beset with challenges hindering the realization of its full contribution to economic development and poverty reduction. Among these challenges are: (1) limited appropriate germplasm; (2) lack of quality control and quality assurance systems for production and processing; (3) Lack of knowledge and understanding of international markets and markets channels; (4) Limited processing infrastructure which constrains value-added opportunities; (5) variable market prices, and (6) weak enterprises with low technical and managerial skills to meet the requirements of buyers. In 1999, we began to develop models for the sustainable commercialization of NP in sub-Sahara Africa using a market-first and scientific-driven approach. This program implemented under ASNAPP (www.asnapp.org) is conducted in partnership with the public and private sector to facilitate diversification of agricultural commodities and marketing channels. Sustainable development incorporates good environmental stewardship from the bush to final product, GAP and robust quality assurance and quality control systems for collection or cultivation to ensure high quality and food safety. This evolving model consists of a multi step value-addition process through the commodity chain to provide safe and high quality NPs and economic opportunities to those rural communities.