Marantaceae in Central Gabon: Identification and Marketing | InformatoveBD

Pamphile Nguema Ndoutoumou, Gino Boussiengui Bousssiengui, Armelle Lyvane Ntsame Affane, Charlène Kady Ignanga Mouyombi,  and Crépin Ella Missang, from the different institute of the Gabon. wrote a research article about, Marantaceae in Central Gabon: Identification and Marketing, entitled, Identification and marketing of Marantaceae in the Ndjolé area, in central Gabon. This research paper published by the International Journal of Agronomy and Agricultural Research | IJAAR.  an open access scholarly research journal on Agronomy, under the affiliation of the International Network For Natural Sciences | INNSpub. an open access multidisciplinary research journal publisher.

Abstract

The forests of the Congo Basin cover an area of 200 million hectares, of which just over 10% is in Gabon. In this country, crop products and non-timber forest products (NTFPs) are abundant because of its favourable climate. There is significant biodiversity and great potential for non-timber forest products. This study is interested in the identification and the supply chain of the Marantaceae, one of these NTFPs of plant origin in central Gabon, whose exploitation is national. Through a survey of the main actors in the sector and field visits in the locality of Bifoun, it emerges the existence of three large groups of exploited marantaceae, whose harvest and transport are mainly done by women, in various containers. The storage of this NTFPs does not exceed four days, with the risk of losing its commercial value due to drying out. The uses of this resource are multiple: processing cassava, cooking food, making handicrafts, etc. The income it provides to producers is mainly use towards small family expenses but helps to monetize the rural world. The difficulties inherent in the distance from harvesting points, the low price of the product and the impossibility of long-term storage of the marantaceae leaves constitute a brake on the development of this activity. It would therefore be wise to envisage the domestication of the species listed for a sustainable use of this plant genetic resource. 

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Introduction

Non-timber forest products (NTFPs), through their multiple uses, contribute to the subsistence of populations and provide them with income (Shankar et al., 2001; Walter, 2001; Mbolo et al., 2002; Biloso & Lejoly, 2006; Vermeulen et al., 2009). The use of various categories of non-timber forest products is sometimes the only source of income for some rural populations (Nguenang et al., 2010; Thiombiano et al., 2010; Ngoya-Kessy, 2011). In recent years, NTFPs have considerably aroused interest worldwide as it contribution to household economy and food security is increasingly recognized (Lescuyer, 2010; Loubelo, 2012), as well as to the achievement of environmental objectives such as the conservation of plant biodiversity (Arnold & Ruiz, 2001; Doucet, 2006; Tchatat & Ndoye, 2006). According to the abovementioned authors and Lehoux and Chakib (2012), these products play a role in terms of food, economic value and their usage for divers purposes (Sunderland et al., 2003; Tchiegang & Mbougueng, 2005; Betti & Lejoly, 2010; Priso et al., 2011). 

According to Tchatat and Ndoye (2006), the question of reasonable management of NTFPs is of great importance in meeting sustainable development objective. Vermeulen et al. (2009) point out the need to know the techniques used for the exploitation of plant genetic resources on the one hand, and the promotion of the domestication of these resources in their different regions, on the other hand. Plants of the Marantaceae family are mainly distributed across the ecologies of tropical America and Africa (Cabezas et al., 2005; Tchatat & Ndoye, 2006).

These are monocotyledons with fairly significant genetic variability, which offers many uses to the populations. For example, the use of Haumania liebrechtsiana (De Wild. & T. Durand) is preferred over other Marantaceae because of its flexible stem used for building huts, basketwork and making fishing vessels. The bevelled pieces of internodes are also used to build cages for rat traps. The stem rings can be made and used to hold bundles of wood and leaves (Tchatat & Ndoye, 2006). According to the same authors, the stems of Hypselodelphys violacea (Ridl.) are also used for traps making. The rings formed with these stems are used to hold together bundles of wood and leaves. The strips detached from the petiole of Marantochloa manii (Benth.) are used in basketry, in cooking as ties for cassava sticks and various packets of food, as well as ties for bundles Marantaceae leaves. 

According to Ndouano & Ada-Ntoutoume (2002), the leaves of Megaphrynium macrostachyum (Benth.) were used as vegetable roof tiles to cover huts or waterproof clothing. However, the most prominent use of those leaves is for food packaging (e.g., cassava sticks) as well as food storage and food cooking of various types of food products. The cortical strips of the petioles (free from the pith) are used for weaving fishing tools, but also as ties to fix the leaves on the roofs or consolidate bundles. The short leaves of Sarcophrynium brachystachys (Benth.) are widely used by women for wrapping short cassava sticks.

The aim of this present study is twofold: firstly, to identify the species of Marantaceae exploited by the peasants in the central Gabon, and secondly laying the foundations of the domestication of this perishable resource. This study is therefore of multiple interest, from a social, economic, ecological and scientific standpoint.

Reference 

Arnold JEM, Ruiz PM. 2001. Can non-timber forest products match tropical forest conservation and development objectives ? Ecological Economics 39, 437-447.

Betti JL, Lejoly J. 2010. Contribution à la connaissance des plantes médicinales de la réserve de biosphère du Dja au Cameroun : plantes utilisées dans le traitement des maux de dos. Intern. Journ. of Biolog. and Chem. Sc. 4(1), 193-200.

Biloso A, Lejoly J. 2006. Etude de l’exploitation et du marché des produits forestiers non ligneux à Kinshasa. Tropicultura 24(3), 183-188.

Cabezas FJ, De la Estrella M, Aedo C, Velayos M. 2005. Marantaceae of Equatorial Guinea. Ann. Bot. Fennici 42, 173-184. ISSN 0003-3847.

Doucet JL. 2006. L’alliance délicate de la gestion forestière et de la biodiversité dans les forêts du Centre du Gabon. Thèse de doctorat, Faculté Universitaire des Sciences Agronomiques de Gembloux, Belgique. 390 pp.

Koechlin J. 1964. Scitaminales : Musacées, Strélitziacées, Zingibéracées, Cannacées, Marantacées. — In : Aubréville, A. (ed.) Flore du Gabon 9, 1-172. Musée National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France.

Lehoux H, Chakib A. 2012. Rapport provisoire PFNL au Gabon. Food and Agriculture Organization, FOPP. http://www.fao.org/forestry/nwfp/78836/fr.

Lescuyer G. 2010. Importance économique des produits forestiers non ligneux dans quelques villages du Sud-Cameroun. Bois et Forêts des Tropiques 304(2), 15-24.

Lompo D, Ouedraogo M, Theilade I, Boussim IJ. 2007. Use of Non-Wood Forest Products by local people bordering the “Parc National Kaboré Tambi”, Burkina Faso. The Journal of Transdisciplinary Environmental Studies 6(1), 21.

Loubelo E. 2012. Impact des Produits Forestiers Non Ligneux (PFNL) sur l’économie des ménages et la sécurité alimentaire : cas de la République du Congo. Thèse de Doctorat, Université Rennes 2, France, 260 pp.

Mbolo M, Walter S, Lejeune J. 2002. La collecte et l’analyse des données statistiques sur les Okafor JC, 1980. Edible indigeneous woody plants in the rural economy of the Nigerian forest zone. For. Ecol. Man 3, 45-65.

Ndouano A, Ada-Ntoutoume E. 2002. Utilisation des produits forestiers non-ligneux dans le cadre de la gestion forestière durable au Gabon.

Ngoya-Kessy AM. 2011. Commerce responsable des produits forestiers : Rôle des Etats dans le processus de certification des concessions forestières dans le bassin du Congo: Cas du Congo Brazzaville. Communication lors du séminaire international sur la gestion des forêts comme outil de coopération et de développement rural en Afrique Central

Nguenang GM, Fongnzossie FE, Nkongmeneck BA. 2010. Importance des forêts secondaires pour la collecte des plantes utiles chez les Badjoué de l’Est Cameroun. Tropicultura 28(4), 238-245.

Nyare EN, Bouanga E, Ntoutoume C. 2012. Stratégie nationale et plan d’actions pour le développement du secteur des produits forestiers non ligneux en République Gabonaise. Projet GCP/ RAF/441/GER.

Priso RJ, Nnanga JF, Etame J, Din-Ndongo, Amougou-Akoa. 2011. Les produits forestiers non ligneux d’origine végétale : valeur et importance dans quelques marchés de la région du Littoral – Cameroun. J. of Appl. Biosci. 40, 2715-2726.

Schackleton S, Shanley P, Ndoye O. 2007. Invisible but viable : recognising local markets for Non-Timber Forest Products. Intern. of Forestry Review 9(3), 697-712.

Shankar U, Lama SD, Bawa KS. 2001. Ecology and economics of domestication of non-timber forest products: an illustration of Broomgram in Darjeeling Himalaya. Journal of Tropical Forest Science               13(1), 171-191.

Sunderland TCH, Besong S, Ayeni JSO. 2003. Distribution, utilization and sustainability of Non-Timber Forest products from Takamanda Forest reserve, Cameroon. In: Comiskey. J. A., Sunderland, T. C. H., Sunderland, G. J. L. (eds) 2003. Taka Manda: The biodiversity of an African Rainforest, SI/MAB Series c 8, 155-172.

Tchatat M, Ndoye O. 2006. Étude des produits forestiers non ligneux d’Afrique centrale : réalités et perspectives. Bois et Forêts des tropiques 288(2), 27-39.

Tchiegang C, Mbougueng PD. 2005. Composition chimique des épices utilisées dans la préparation du Nah-poh et du Nkui de l’Ouest Cameroun. Tropicultura 23(4), 193-200.

Thiombiano DNE, Lamien N, Dibong SD, Boussim IJ. 2010. Etat des peuplements des espèces ligneuses de soudure des communes rurales de Pobé-Mengao et de Nobéré (Burkina Faso). Journal of Animal & Plant Sciences 9(1), 1104-1116.

Vermeulen C, Schippers C, Larrubia CJ, Ntoune M, Bracke C, Doucet JL. 2009. Enjeux méthodologiques autour des produits forestiers non ligneux dans le cadre de la certification en Afrique Centrale. Bois et Forêts des Tropiques 300(2), 69-78. DOI: 10.19182/bft2009.300.a20416

Walter S. 2001. Non-Wood Forest Products in Africa: a regional and national overview. EC-FAO. http://www.fao.org/docrep/019/y1515b/y1515b.pdf

 Source : Identification and marketing of Marantaceae in the Ndjolé area, in central Gabon

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Marketing Abaca Fiber: Insights from Caraga Region Farmers | InformativeBD

Rosalina A. Sagocsoc, from the different institute of the Philippines. wrote a research article about, Marketing Abaca Fiber: Insights from Caraga Region Farmers,entitled, Farmers practices in marketing Abaca fiber in Caraga Region. Farmers practices in marketing Abaca fiber in Caraga Region. This research paper published by the Journal of Biodiversity and Environmental Sciences | JBES. an open access scholarly research journal on Biodiversity, under the affiliation of the International Network For Natural Sciences | INNSpub. an open access multidisciplinary research journal publisher.

 Abstract

The study was conducted to determine the marketing practices and the profitability of establishing Abaca in the Caraga Region. A total of One Thousand Two Hundred Fifty-Six (1256) farmers, Seventy-Seven (77) traders, and three (3) processors were interviewed as the respondents of the study. Their names were obtained from the Philippine Fiber Development Authority (PhilFIDA) and the Municipal Agriculture Office (MAO) of the concerned municipalities of the Region. Data gathering activities included interviews and focus group discussions (FGDs), and stakeholder forums were conducted to validate and gather additional information. The said Focus Group Discussion and Stakeholders’ Forum were attended by the farmers, officers in various cooperatives, traders, representatives from the regional line offices, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Municipal Agriculture Offices (MAO), Academe, Provincial Agriculture Officer. In the Caraga Region, abaca traders are situated in Agusan del Norte 28 or 36.36%, Agusan del Sur 25 or 32.47%, Surigao del Sur 24 or 31.17% and no traders in the province of Surigao del Norte. The one who sets the price for abaca fiber is the trader/buyer 99.28 % and only 0.71% sets by the farmer. The means of contacting buyers are referrals by the farmers 32.96%; traders will come to the farmers 27.46%, recommended by the Local Government Unit (LGU) 23.88%, and traders who are known by the cooperatives 15.68%. The buyers’ requirements in buying abaca fibers are quality 63.69% and volume 36.30%. Traders engage in buying Abaca for more than 15 years or 38.5%; 1-5 years, 30.12%; 11-15 years, 18.07% and 6-10 years, 13.25%. The means of transporting abaca fiber is through motorcycles 43.37% and hired trucks 56.61%. The estimated monthly volume sold is 1- 5 metric tons or 92.77% and 6 – 10 metric tons. The farmer’s Abaca fibers through Barangay or Municipal Traders, Cooperatives/Consolidators, Baling and Grading Establishment, Processors, and exporters. The issues and concerns for the traders are the following: classification and grading of fiber, cheating abaca bundles where stones inserted to increase weights, abaca fiber not adequately dried, and piles of Abaca are mixed with other fibers. The profitability of abaca farming for 1 hectare /year is the average of P48,000 for a typical farm, while for a good farm is P115,200 – 192,000. 

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Introduction

The "Manila hemp," known internationally for its world-class fiber, continues to be one of the priority agricultural commodities of the Department of Agriculture (DA). The Philippines supplies more than 87.4 percent of the total abaca fiber market and earns more than $111.33 million in global abaca trade annually (PCA, 2017). 

In 2022, as per PhilFIDA data, Caraga ranked third among the top abaca-producing regions in the country with an estimated 10,000 metric tons (MT) of fiber production, next to Bicol Region (1st) and Davao Region (2nd).

Abaca is in great demand in the world market today because of its lucrative value in industries such as making security papers, paper money, ropes, insulators, and other handicrafts. The most important part of the Abaca is the stalk which is the source of the fiber. Abaca fiber is superior to all other natural fibers because of its great strength and its resistance to the action of water. It is three times stronger than cotton, the most potent natural fiber. 

The country’s overall fiber production is estimated at 62,640.63MT, remaining the top abaca-producing country, supplying 85% of the fiber demand in the world.

Pulp, which accounts for 69.2 percent market share of the abaca exports, has reported earnings of $ 79.4 million or an increase of 11.7 percent. Abaca cordage, which grabbed a market share of 10 percent, fell to $ 11.4 million. Fiber crafts exports also fell 67.3% to $3.7 million (The Philippine Star, 2016). The pulp manufacturing industry is the leading end-user of abaca fiber, followed by cordage manufacturing and fiber craft industry. It was reported that due to the increasing use of abaca fiber in specialty paper manufacturing, the demand for fiber among pulp manufacturers is constantly surging, and the trend is expected to prevail in 2014-2019. Among the leading abaca fiber suppliers, Ching Bee Trading Corporation dominates the market in the Philippines, followed by Tag Fibers, Inc. and Selinrail International. 

For the past half-decade, the Abaca industry helped boost the country’s economy from its export earnings with an annual average of P4.7 billion, mainly in the Visayas and Mindanao Islands. Abaca fibers are cultivated across 176,549 hectares of farmlands by over 122,758 farmers. Moreover, in recent years, it has been perceived that aside from the substantial contributions of Abaca to the economy, its utilization can also provide numerous ecological advantages (www.philfida.da.gov.ph, 2019).

With the continuing development of the fiber craft industry in the Philippines, the abaca fiber market has been witnessing a boost due to the growing demand for gifts, toys, and housewares. Moreover, increasing consumer inclination for lifestyle products is further expected to strengthen the growth trend for abaca crafts in the coming years. There are only two significant exporters of abaca fiber in the world – the Philippines and Ecuador, with the Philippines accounting for over 80% of the global production of abaca fiber. In the Philippines, the abaca plant is cultivated across 130 thousand hectares of land by over 90 thousand farmers. 

Asia Pacific was the largest market for abaca fiber in terms of production and consumption over the past few years, and the trend is expected to continue over the forecast period. The Philippines, the world's largest abaca producer, hold a significant market share in Asia Pacific. A considerable portion of produced abaca fiber in the Philippines is internally consumed, while a substantial amount is exported to various countries, including U.S., Japan, and other European countries. The Philippine government supports initiatives to increase high-quality abaca fiber production levels for domestic consumption and export. This is expected to strengthen its market positioning further and open market opportunities for new players over the next seven years (Erie News, 2019).

Thus, this undertaking is critical to fill the data gaps of the recently conducted Value Chain Analysis of the Commodity in the Region. Profiling tells us the actual scenario of how many abaca farmers engaged in this commodity, what support programs they availed in our present administration, what they need, and what other issues and concerns so that our government can also make some intervention programs for our abaca industry.

Major end-user industries of abaca fiber include paper and pulp, fibercraft, and cordage. The paper and pulp industry is the largest end-user industry for abaca fiber, followed by cordage manufacturing and fiber craft industry. Increasing the application scope of abaca fiber in specialty paper manufacturing is likely a critical factor driving demand for abaca fibers in the paper & pulp industry. The rising market for cordage in industrial applications, including the production of ropes for ships, is expected to boost its demand over the next seven years.

Reference

Abaca Sustainability Manual Published by Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority, 2016

Department of Agriculture, Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority. 2016-2019, www.philfida.da.gov.ph

Edwin R. Celestino, Gregorio O. Sarmiento, Jinky T. Benicio, 2016. Value Chain Analysis of Abaca (Musa textiles) Fiber in Northern Samar, Philippines, IJISET- International Journal of Innovative Science & Technology, Vol.3, Issue 8.

Enhanced Provincial Commodity Investment Plan, Province of Agusan del Norte. http://www.philstar.com/agriculture/2016

Philippine Abaca helps in global environment conservation. 2016-2019. Department of Agriculture, Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority. www.philfida.da.gov.ph.

Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP). 2014. I-PLAN Component Mindanao Cluster, Value Chain Analysis and Competitiveness Strategy: Abaca fiber Mindanao, Department of Agriculture Mindanao Regions.

The Philippine Star, 2016, Louise Maureen Simeon  www.philfida.da.gov.ph2016.

Source : Farmers practices in marketing Abaca fiber in Caraga Region

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