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MISSION TO SOMALILAND
The Network for Natural Gums and Resins in Africa (NGARA)
is a regional network helping African countries formulate
strategies for sustainable development of gums, resins and
allied dryland resources for improving livelihoods of local
communities and economies of member countries while ensuring
that the environment is conserved. NGARA collaborates with
various organizations to achieve its objectives including FAO
Somali.
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In 2008/2009 NGARA and FAO
through its program in Hargeisa, Somaliland collaborated
and successfully implemented a project entitled “Community
Based Local Economic Development of Somaliland and
Puntland” whose objective was to enhance commercial
production of aromatic resins (frankincense, myrhh and
opopanax), commercial gums (gum arabic) and allied
woodland resources among selected communities in
Somaliland for sustainable economic growth and
diversification of the country leading to creation of new
jobs and livelihood opportunities. The project was piloted
in the district of Caynabo and its environs within the
Togedheer Region.
NGARA made several missions to Somaliland to undertake the
following activities;
- Appraisal and inventory of gum and resin producing species
and stakeholder analysis,
- Mapping and development of management plans focusing on
the potential of myrrh (Malmal) to improve livelihoods
- Establishment and Capacity Building of Saraar Malmal
Group
After the project was successfully completed NGARA
continued to use its regional and international links to look
for suitable markets for aromatic resins, myrrh/oppoponax and
commercial gums to strengthen trade and marketing.
Consequently based on NGARAs experiences in gums and resins in
the region, Mr. Martinho Rocha, from Brazil and representing
MILAGROS (www.milagros.com.br), the largest importer of gums
and resins in South America, visited Kenya and Somaliland on a
fact finding mission to explore opportunities to buy myrrh and
frankincense directly from producers and/or traders in African
producer countries and also to see first hand the resources
where these important commodities come from. It is hoped that
this will translate into increased incomes and improved
livelihoods for the rural communities where these resources
are found. The NGARA Secretariat Office in Nairobi, Kenya organized the
visit to Somaliland (14th to 23rd July 2010) and Northern
Kenya (25th to 30th July 2010) to explore trade opportunities,
meet the relevant authorities, visit the production areas of
myrrh and frankincense and also meet traders and producer
groups in Hargeisa, Burao and Ainabo in Somaliland and
Nairobi, Isiolo, Serolipi, and Laisamis in Kenya.
In Somaliland the team was hosted and well facilitated by the
Somaliland Chamber of Commerce and also received support from
FAO Somali Office in Hargeisa. In Kenya, the national
association Gums and Resins of Kenya (GARA) played a key role
in facilitating the visits to traders and producers both in
Nairobi and in Northern Kenya.
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Mr.Rocha, left with Gums and Resins
Association of Kenya (GARA) Chairman, Mr. Quresh. |
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Dr. Githiomi, the Centre Director,
Forest Products Research Centre with
Mr. Rocha in his office at KEFRI Karura. |
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During a visit to a factory that processes
Gums and Resins in
Nairobi, Veto Chemicals |
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Mr.Rocha, Mr. Mohammed Jama
representative of FAO in Somaliland and Ms. S. Mbiru |
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Mr.Rocha, sampling Gums and Resins products in
a market in Somaliland |
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Purchasing Gums and Resins from a trader in Hargesia, Somaliland |
SNV/ SOUTHERN SUDAN
Southern Sudan is endowed with a diversity of natural forest
and woodland resources. Among the non timber forest products,
Gum acacia is the most important as it has sustained the
Sudanese economy for a long time.
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For more information email:
info@ngara.org
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