Creating an Enabling Environment for Sustainable Production and Marketing of Gum Acacia – The Case of Southern Sudan

Abstract

The Government of Southern Sudan, established by the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) in Jan 2005, has a land area of about 648,051 km2, which is endowed with vast quantities of natural resources including Acacia senegal and Acacia seyal trees. The Southern Sudan gum belt, based on the African Gum Belt Map and the Probability Map produced by SNV (2009), is estimated at 300,740.6 km2 (30,074,060 ha), which is about 46.4% of the total land area and covers 7 states: Upper Nile, Eastern Equatoria, Jonglei, Unity, Northern Bahr El Gazal, Central Equatoria and Warrap. Although Southern Sudan has these vast natural resources, it has not formally participated in the commercial production and marketing of the valuable gum acacia. Some communities in Southern Sudan states bordering North Sudan have some idea of commercial gum collection and marketing as they, over time, have been marginally involved and most of the gum has been sold to northern traders or brokers. These vast resources therefore remain underdeveloped and untapped for meaningful benefit to the rural communities and livelihood improvement. As the newly formed ‘Republic of South Sudan’ enters a new phase of independence (from 9th July 2011), the Government of South Sudan (GoSS) is committed to developing the gum sector for the benefit of the many years marginalised and war ravaged rural communities' socio-economic development, banking on the reversion from traditional local uses to modern production, processing and marketing strategies and as an alternative non-oil revenue earner. Sustainable natural gums production shall be the corner stone to developing the rural communities as this promotes people's livelihoods in harmony with forests and woodlands. As South Sudan enters the international arena on Acacia gum marketing, the desire is to also fulfil the Global Consensus on actions towards sustainable management of forests. Sustainable and reliable production of quality organic gums from South Sudan that meets international standards and requirements is therefore the Government of South Sudan's focus. This provides huge investment opportunities for the sub-sector to foster socio-economic development of rural populace in potential gum production zones: quality products, fair pricing, value addition and marketing channels. This article seeks to share the several steps taken so far in creating an enabling environment, lessons learnt and the way forward in order to fully achieve the goal of gum being the corner stone to developing the war ravaged rural communities and restoring the dignity of the South Sudanese.