Consortium leader: Millennium Ecological Museum (MEM)
Consortium: Millennium Ecological Museum (MEM), Cameroon; University of Douala (ENSET), Cameroon; Czech University of Life Sciences Faculty of AgriSciences (CZU FTA), Czech Republic; Masuku University of Science and Technology (USTM), Gabon
RESSAC contribution: EUR 79,850
The exploitation of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) has a long history in Central Africa and has been the subject of much research. So far, scientists have carried out research on the prevalence, phenology, socioeconomics, genetics and domestication of many NTFP species. There is clear evidence that these wild resources are highly valued by populations in the area, and are considered sources of diversification for subsistence agriculture. Their role in the fight against food insecurity – as an important source of income for local people and the local economy – has long been acknowledged. Studies reported the annual value of the top nine NTFPs in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and in Cameroon in 2007/2008 being over USD 38.5 million.
However, despite the commercialization of NTFPs being demonstrated to be financially competitive, a great majority of them are sold in raw form. The high perishability of many NTFPs has been reported as one among a number of constraints to developing their domestic and international trade. Against this background, processing NTFPs has been advocated as a way to reduce post-harvest loss, diversify by-products, generate additional household income, reduce supply disruptions, improve original resource quality, create new jobs and increase export markets.
Despite the economic success of NTFP markets, applicable statistics remain limited to export data for raw products, while very little is known about the NTFP processing sector. This study will document value chains of processed NTFPs in Central African countries, and identify enabling and constraining factors for NTFP processing by small and medium enterprises. More specifically, two countries – Cameroon and Gabon – will be the main study sites.
The study project will be conducted by a consortium comprising the University of Douala (ENSET), Cameroon; Masuku University of Science and Technology (USTM), Gabon; Czech University of Life Sciences Faculty of AgriSciences (CZU FTA), Czech Republic; and the Cameroonian NGO, Millennium Ecological Museum (MEM), with financial support from the RESSAC programme.
At the subregional level, this project is consistent with the COMIFAC Sub-regional Guidelines on the Sustainable Management of Non-Timber Forest Products of Plant Origin in Central Africa, through which states commit to taking the necessary incentives to promote the local processing of NTFPs; and ensure the permanent collection, use and dissemination of statistical data necessary for the sustainable management of NTFPs.
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