Gum arabic collection in northern Kenya

Unexploited resources, underdeveloped markets

Bibliographic Data

ID14816632
AuthorsWytse Vellema (Ghent University), Gaudiose Mujawamariya (0000-0003-0087-8529, (2) Africa Rice, Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania), Marijke D’haese (0000-0002-0544-3420, HOGENT University of Applied Sciences and Arts), Marijke D'Haese (Ghent University)
Year2014
Volume27
Issue1
Pages69-86
Publication date2014-02-25
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueAVRUG-bulletin/Afrika Focus (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0772-0793 • E-ISSN: 0772-084X
PublisherWalter de Gruyter GmbH (PUBLISHER • DE)
DOI10.1163/2031356x-02701005
OpenAlexW4238601910
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited12

Gum arabic is a resin collected from several types of Acacia tree growing most densely in arid and semi-arid lands in East Africa and the Sahel. Kenya is particularly well endowed with gum-yielding trees but exports only small amounts of gum. Methodology: A combination of descriptive livelihood and value chain analysis was used to gain insight into the socio-economic characteristics of collectors and the role of gum arabic in their livelihood. Results: The degree of poverty encountered is considerable with most collectors barely able to maintain a subsistence level. Marketed quantities of gum arabic are low, collection practices are rudimentary, and the market is severely underdeveloped. Conclusion: Thin markets, evidenced by a lack of specialised traders and the infrequency of their visits, removes incentives for increasing the quantity and quality of marketed gum arabic. Only when this situation changes will collectors be motivated to improve their current collecting and marketing practices, for which there is ample scope

Acacia · Agriculture · Agroforestry · Arabic · Arid · Biology · Business · Economic growth · Economics · Geography · Gum arabic · Incentive · Livelihood · Market economy · Poverty · Subsistence agriculture · Supply chain · Value chain · African Botany and Ecology Studies · Agriculture and Rural Development Research · Polysaccharides Composition and Applications · Ecology · Food Science · Marketing