Participatory Forest Participatory Forest ManagmentManagment
The Role of Farmers The Role of Farmers Associations in the Associations in the
Rehabilitation of the Gum Rehabilitation of the Gum Arabic BeltArabic Belt
By: Fatima M.A. RamlyBy: Fatima M.A. RamlyBsc. Msc. Forestry, University of KhartoumBsc. Msc. Forestry, University of Khartoum
BackgroundBackground•• Sudan exhibits a series of variation in soils, climatic Sudan exhibits a series of variation in soils, climatic
conditions and hence ecological zones ranging from conditions and hence ecological zones ranging from hot dry desert in the north to the moist tropical hot dry desert in the north to the moist tropical climate in the Southclimate in the South
•• Acacia senegal Acacia senegal L (Willd.) is the most important tree L (Willd.) is the most important tree species in Sudan with a wide range of uses, species in Sudan with a wide range of uses,
••
•• The Project of Restocking of Gum Belt for The Project of Restocking of Gum Belt for Desertification Control has completed its three Desertification Control has completed its three phases (1980phases (1980--1995), 1995),
•• This paper is concerned with local This paper is concerned with local organizations or institutions and their organizations or institutions and their role in managing forest resources and role in managing forest resources and enhancing the social wellenhancing the social well--being of the being of the communities in North Kordofan State. communities in North Kordofan State.
Scope of the Paper
•• The local institutions possess the The local institutions possess the capacity and creativity of people to capacity and creativity of people to create bodies that effectively serve their create bodies that effectively serve their needs.needs.
•• There are positive examples of what There are positive examples of what can happen when people have control can happen when people have control of their own lives in solving the of their own lives in solving the problems they are facing.problems they are facing.
•• But there are many questions But there are many questions concerning the possibilities to work with concerning the possibilities to work with and through local institutions as a more and through local institutions as a more effective strategy for achieving effective strategy for achieving sustainable natural resource sustainable natural resource management. management.
•• Local institutions embody the local Local institutions embody the local knowledge that has evolved in culturally knowledge that has evolved in culturally and ecologically specific situations.and ecologically specific situations.
•• In this paper special emphasis was given In this paper special emphasis was given to the local institution (farmerto the local institution (farmer’’s s associaions) in the field of gum production.associaions) in the field of gum production.
•• North Kordofan State is selected as a North Kordofan State is selected as a casecase--study representative of the gum belt. study representative of the gum belt.
•• North Kordofan has traditionally been North Kordofan has traditionally been regarded in the Sudan as a major source regarded in the Sudan as a major source of primary agricultural production.of primary agricultural production.
•• Kordofan contributed substantially to Kordofan contributed substantially to national foreign exchange earnings national foreign exchange earnings through the export of cash crops, through the export of cash crops, particularly sesame, hibiscus, groundnuts, particularly sesame, hibiscus, groundnuts, melon seed, livestock and hides.melon seed, livestock and hides.
Problem Statement
•• Kordofan has been known for the production of Kordofan has been known for the production of gum arabic. Until 1960 Sudan exported 85% of gum arabic. Until 1960 Sudan exported 85% of global demand of gum arabic 50% of this from global demand of gum arabic 50% of this from Kordofan. Kordofan.
•• Traditional agroforestry, treeTraditional agroforestry, tree--fallow/cropping fallow/cropping rotation system, practiced by farmers for rotation system, practiced by farmers for generations. generations.
•• The hashab tree was the key to this traditional The hashab tree was the key to this traditional system and in maintaining ecological balance. system and in maintaining ecological balance.
•• Since 1960 onwards, the apparently wellSince 1960 onwards, the apparently well--balanced traditional system began to decline balanced traditional system began to decline due to variety of factors, mainly the drought of due to variety of factors, mainly the drought of 1973 1973 -- 1984 1984 --1985. 1985.
• Some projects exerted considerable efforts to rehabilitate the gumbelt in the state, but the price of gum arabic is declining compared with other cash crops that led farmers not to tap their hashab trees, but cut them for charcoal.
•• No organized body to organize the No organized body to organize the farmerfarmer’’s activities.s activities.
•• Fluctuation of the price of gum.Fluctuation of the price of gum.
•• ““SheilSheil”” system, middlemen, etc.system, middlemen, etc.
Thank youThank you
Establishment of AssociationsEstablishment of Associations
•• The initial Associations were comprised of farmers whose The initial Associations were comprised of farmers whose income is derived predominantly from the production and income is derived predominantly from the production and sale of gum arabic. sale of gum arabic.
•• The project assisted in the establishment and formation of The project assisted in the establishment and formation of twenty Farmerstwenty Farmers’’ Associations by the end of 1994. Associations by the end of 1994. Moreover FNC established additional 176 associations Moreover FNC established additional 176 associations after the termination of the project in 2006 after the termination of the project in 2006
•• Formation of Associations starts as an Formation of Associations starts as an initiative of the community.initiative of the community.
•• A visit is made to the village to check the A visit is made to the village to check the areas covered by gum producing trees and to areas covered by gum producing trees and to ensure that the members are local residents.ensure that the members are local residents.
•• An awareness general meeting is held for all An awareness general meeting is held for all local people in the area,local people in the area,
•• Forms are distributed to gather all the Forms are distributed to gather all the necessary information and,necessary information and,
•• Finally the committee members are selected Finally the committee members are selected by elections. by elections.
Objective of AssociationObjective of Association•• A major aim of these Associations isA major aim of these Associations is to to
maximize the farmmaximize the farm--gate returns to rural gate returns to rural communities through the transfer of skills communities through the transfer of skills particularly by:particularly by:
•• improved tree tapping; improved tree tapping;
•• value added by cleaning, grading and value added by cleaning, grading and packaging and;packaging and;
•• Collective delivery and marketing. Collective delivery and marketing.
•• A lot of efforts were spent to increase A lot of efforts were spent to increase farmersfarmers’’ technical knowtechnical know--how and managerial how and managerial skills through training, workshops, and fieldskills through training, workshops, and field--days for both Field Extension Agents and days for both Field Extension Agents and Associations committees.Associations committees.
•• In 2002 the model evaluated by FNC,In 2002 the model evaluated by FNC,
•• In 2003, (115 )forestry graduates employed to In 2003, (115 )forestry graduates employed to organize the establishment of Farmersorganize the establishment of Farmers’’Associations in the gum producing states.Associations in the gum producing states.
50-136137-253
254-370>370
At Establishment
Last 5 year 0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
%
Members
Membership of the farmers associations at establishment and lastMembership of the farmers associations at establishment and last five yearsfive years
•• The idea of the formation of farmers The idea of the formation of farmers associations started at specific sites and associations started at specific sites and replicated at other areas,replicated at other areas,
•• The participation of stakeholders in the The participation of stakeholders in the associations is outstanding,associations is outstanding,
•• Each day new comers adopt the Each day new comers adopt the innovation. innovation.
•• Although the adoption of the innovation of the Although the adoption of the innovation of the associations in the study area is high, associations in the study area is high, considerable proportions of gum producers considerable proportions of gum producers did not or were not encouraged to join the did not or were not encouraged to join the associations. associations.
•• Reasons for not joining the association: Reasons for not joining the association: -- Personal reasons, Personal reasons, -- Mistrust communal work due to the pitfalls Mistrust communal work due to the pitfalls of the other cooperatives in the study area. of the other cooperatives in the study area.
•• This may be attributed to the lack of enough This may be attributed to the lack of enough confidence and mistrust which could easily be confidence and mistrust which could easily be revoked through extension. revoked through extension.
Situation of FarmerSituation of Farmer’’s Associations in s Associations in SudanSudan
Total Total No. No.
registered registered Total members Total members Area Area rehabilitatedrehabilitated/fed /fed
2651 2651 1116 1116 1,881,881,881,88(60(60--100 household/Association100 household/Association
40% are women40% are women
5,877,5005,877,500
(1992(1992--2006) 2006)
•• The current business of Associations The current business of Associations includes:includes:
•• Planning of reforestation, by seeds and Planning of reforestation, by seeds and seedlings,seedlings,
•• Village and home nurseries,Village and home nurseries,
•• Management and tapping of gum Management and tapping of gum garden,garden,
•• Harvesting, collection, storage, andHarvesting, collection, storage, and
•• Selling of gum.Selling of gum.
Difficulties Confronted in the Difficulties Confronted in the Establishment of Gum AssociationsEstablishment of Gum Associations
•• Migration of the real owners, one of the Migration of the real owners, one of the conditions of membership in association conditions of membership in association is the permanent residence of the real is the permanent residence of the real owner permanently or partially,owner permanently or partially,
•• The procedures of registration of the The procedures of registration of the association is difficult, high cost of association is difficult, high cost of registration fees. registration fees.
Conclusions:Conclusions:•• The area of the associations is characterized by The area of the associations is characterized by
big family sizes,big family sizes,
•• After the establishment of the association, areas After the establishment of the association, areas under under hashab hashab increased. increased.
•• The extension service contributed to the safeguard The extension service contributed to the safeguard of the gum gardens.of the gum gardens.
•• Seedlings production at the village level helped the Seedlings production at the village level helped the farmers to gain technical knowfarmers to gain technical know--how.how.
•• The Stocking density of The Stocking density of hashabhashab tree was highly tree was highly influenced by the expansion of agriculture influenced by the expansion of agriculture
•• The continuous rise in the prices of the agricultural The continuous rise in the prices of the agricultural crops compared with low prices of gum crops compared with low prices of gum –– farmers farmers were not encouraged to tap their trees.were not encouraged to tap their trees.
•• The associations, and through the adoption of The associations, and through the adoption of different activities contributed significantly to the different activities contributed significantly to the development in the rural areas, credit, loans, water development in the rural areas, credit, loans, water etc. etc.
•• Consolidation of social relations among farmers.Consolidation of social relations among farmers.
•• Farmers in areas without associations Farmers in areas without associations are aware about the role of the are aware about the role of the associations in raising the standard of associations in raising the standard of living and their contribution to the living and their contribution to the development of the study area. development of the study area.
RecommendationsRecommendations•• Introduction of incentives, motivations and Introduction of incentives, motivations and
extension service would highly encourage the extension service would highly encourage the farmers to manage their gum gardens for gum farmers to manage their gum gardens for gum production.production.
•• The FNC should investigate suitable means for The FNC should investigate suitable means for motivating the farmers to tap their trees.motivating the farmers to tap their trees.
•• Provision of public services, particularly drinkable Provision of public services, particularly drinkable water, will help in the process of gum tapping and water, will help in the process of gum tapping and picking since the main cost of gum production is picking since the main cost of gum production is the cost of provision of drinking water to the the cost of provision of drinking water to the labors.labors.
•• The FNC has now a successfully tested The FNC has now a successfully tested model that should be adopted, utilized and model that should be adopted, utilized and managed to expand to other similar areas.managed to expand to other similar areas.
•• Encouraging the establishment of gum Encouraging the establishment of gum Arabic associations, building their Arabic associations, building their capacities, improving their skills and capacities, improving their skills and enabling them to take part in setting policies enabling them to take part in setting policies and decisions related to pricing, storage, and decisions related to pricing, storage, processing and export of gum Arabic.processing and export of gum Arabic.
•• Encouraging the implementation of Encouraging the implementation of sustainable development natural sustainable development natural resource projects that involve the local resource projects that involve the local communities.communities.
•• Linking Gum Producers with related Linking Gum Producers with related institutions policy and legislative bodies institutions policy and legislative bodies and most importantly with the end and most importantly with the end users.users.
Thank YouThank You
