The role of indigenous gums and resins in pastoralist livelihood security and climate change adaptation in Garba Tula area of Northern Kenya

Yasin Mahadi: Future Agricultures Consortium Early Career Fellow

yasinmahadi@gmail.com

International Conference On The Future Of The Agrifood Sector In Africa 19th-21st March 2012, Accra, Ghana

Young people farming & food | International conference on the future of the agrifood sector in Africa | 19th-21st March 2012, Accra Ghana

80% of Kenya land mass ASALs (Northern Kenya contributing the bulk)

Hot and dry climate, erratic rainfall 150-750 mm

Sparse vegetation

Arable agriculture marginal

Area under developed: infrastructure and human capital

Background

Young people farming & food | International conference on the future of the agrifood sector in Africa | 19th-21st March 2012, Accra Ghana 3

Importance of dry lands • Support livelihoods of 25% of

rural population

• Support more than 70% of livestock population

• About 10 Million people living in ASALs – depend on livestock for livelihood

• Rich biodiversity (90% of gazetted national parks and game reserves)

• Pastoral areas: In Kenya 80% of eco-tourism interest lies

Young people farming & food | International conference on the future of the agrifood sector in Africa | 19th-21st March 2012, Accra Ghana 4

Multiple stresses/challenges

• High incidences of poverty

• Frequent drought

• 1999-2001 drought: loss of 26% of livestock

• Survey by Aklilu and Wekesa, 2002 after the drought: estimated loss of Kshs 5.8 billion

• Violent conflict and cattle rustling

• Economic and political marginalisation

• Inappropriate development policies

• Environmental degradation

Young people farming & food | International conference on the future of the agrifood sector in Africa | 19th-21st March 2012, Accra Ghana 5

Climate change

• Exacerbate problems posed by climate variability

• Prolonged and severe drought, floods

• Resource use conflicts

• Cattle raids

• Accelerate rate of land degradation

• Reduce livestock and crop productivity (huge investment required)

• Woody vegetation can provide opportunity for economic development and safety net

Young people farming & food | International conference on the future of the agrifood sector in Africa | 19th-21st March 2012, Accra Ghana 6

Objectives • Critically examine the role of gums and resins in livelihood security

and climate change adaptation among the pastoralists of Garba Tula area of northern Kenya

• Investigate whether additional income from harvesting indigenous gums and resins is used to support livestock-keeping systems or invested into other economic activities and trade

• Investigate the existing policy and value chain on gums and resins and the extent to which it favours sustainable harvesting and economically viable enterprises.

• Explore the opportunities that exist for value addition, disabling cartels and domestication of the gums and resins yielding tree

species

Young people farming & food | International conference on the future of the agrifood sector in Africa | 19th-21st March 2012, Accra Ghana 7

• Exudates from stems and branches of Acacia, Commiphora and Boswelia species

• Acacia-Commiphora woodland-major vegetation type in study area

Gum arabic: Acacia senegal; Acacia seyal

Hagar/Hur (Opoponax): Commiphora holtziana

Frankincense : Boswelia neglecta

Myrrh : Commiphora myrrha

Gums and resins

Young people farming & food | International conference on the future of the agrifood sector in Africa | 19th-21st March 2012, Accra Ghana

Methodology

• Study area (4 villages)

Malka daka

Belgesh

Barambate

Biliqo

• Data collection

Household survey questionnaires

Key respondent interviews (Traders, NGOs and CBOs)

Focus group discussions

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Young people farming & food | International conference on the future of the agrifood sector in Africa | 19th-21st March 2012, Accra Ghana 9

Income and livelihood characteristics

52% derive financial benefits from livestock keeping

Gums and resins collection and sell: 59%

Other minor activities include:

• Charcoal

• Selling poles

• Collection of precious stones

• Trading :Shops

Findings

Young people farming & food | International conference on the future of the agrifood sector in Africa | 19th-21st March 2012, Accra Ghana 10

Resource availability Average collection per month: 38

Kg

Collection from single tree 40g- 2kg

Majority involved in tapping, damage trees to enhance productivity

Collection done after 2 days- 1 week after the cut

Older trees produce more gums and resins

Trees abundant

Findings Cont..

Young people farming & food | International conference on the future of the agrifood sector in Africa | 19th-21st March 2012, Accra Ghana

Findings (cont)

Currently communities not considering domestication

65%- gums and resins resource declining (recent years)

Community consider hagar from their area as the best in East Africa

No restriction on the harvest

Community members consider harvesting of gums and resins as environmentally friendly (no adverse effect on tree)

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Findings (cont)

Income from gums and resins

Biliqo Malka Daka Belgesh Barambate0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

7000

Income from livestock and gums and resins

Livestock

Gums and resins

Young people farming & food | International conference on the future of the agrifood sector in Africa | 19th-21st March 2012, Accra Ghana 13

Operational cost

Monetary: Average of Ksh 990 per month: Subsistence and equipment

Kind: 15 mins-20 hours; Travel as far 80 km

Income from gums and resins:

Buy subsistence (70%)

Pay school fees (24%)

Buy livestock/Restocking (22%)

Buy salt and drugs for livestock

Findings (cont)

Young people farming & food | International conference on the future of the agrifood sector in Africa | 19th-21st March 2012, Accra Ghana 14

Data indicate:

Poor people. People with no livestock or few number

Herders as they go on the herding business

Opportunists: cashing on emerging opportunities in addition to their normal livelihood activities

Collectors

Young people farming & food | International conference on the future of the agrifood sector in Africa | 19th-21st March 2012, Accra Ghana 15

Market and value chain

Collectors sell:

Directly to traders in major centres (who are involved in multiple trades)

Agents placed at major centres by traders (cartel)

Traders who go round buying from collectors at designated areas

More energetic young traders are emerging

Price dynamics

Collectors: 60-100

Agents: 100-120

Traders: 180-280

Exporters: 350-450

Young people farming & food | International conference on the future of the agrifood sector in Africa | 19th-21st March 2012, Accra Ghana 16

• Lack of capital (subsistence)-inefficient collection

• Travel far distance in search of gums and resins

• No established market/reliable buyers

• Lack of sound market information to guide opportunities, trends, prices

• Trees producing less (drought)

• Transport

• Not knowledgeable on way to increase production

• Tree damage by camels mostly owned by the intruders “somalis” from Northern Eastern Kenya

• Insecurity

Constraints faced by collectors

Young people farming & food | International conference on the future of the agrifood sector in Africa | 19th-21st March 2012, Accra Ghana 17

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• Market dominated by few “cartels”

• Supply does not meet the demand

• Lack of operational capital

• Lack of storage facility (hagar loose weight if kept for long)

• Certificate of origin (foresters don’t issue)

• Police officers ask for bribe during transportation (attribute gums and resins to explosive manufacturing)

• No issuing of permit-NEMA office not there in Garbatulla

Constraints faced by traders

Young people farming & food | International conference on the future of the agrifood sector in Africa | 19th-21st March 2012, Accra Ghana 18

Recommendations

• Financing the collectors to facilitate their operational activities

• Capacity building of the collectors: training on tapping and storage methods

• Market and value chain development: reliable information on market trends

• Value addition and practices that are compliant with the statutory standards in international markets

• Sensitizing communities on the importance of gums and resins: alternative and complimentary enterprise

• Attract private sector investment

• Formation of collector groups

• Maintaining peace and putting in place conflict resolution mechanisms

Young people farming & food | International conference on the future of the agrifood sector in Africa | 19th-21st March 2012, Accra Ghana

Thank you

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