Will the Gum Arabic belt come back to life once again?
30 August, 2010
Khartoum, Sudanow- The famous Gum Arabic belt in Sudan, covering the whole poor savanna area from far western Sudan to the far south east has lost 50% of its area in the past five decades to decreasing acacia tree growth in line with the global decline in demand for the Gum Arabic it produces. However, this important economic sector may revive once again if a proposed project to plant 6 million Hashab and Taleh (acacia) trees succeeds (read more: Gum Arabic :- Endeavors to increase Gum Arabic production and exports)
According to the National Forestry Corporation, the belt of Gum Arabic includes one fifth of Sudan's area, that is 200,000 square miles, and covers (11) of the country's 25 states. Over five million people work in the field of Gum Arabic production.
"The Sudanese Gum Arabic belt, with its acacia trees, the most famous in the world, has lost many of its resources as a result of negligence and other factors," Dr. Isam Siddiq, told Sudanow, "We have a plan to re-plant 6 million acacia trees to bring that rich belt back to life once again, and we think we can do it; we actually can do it," he insists.
Experts say although Sudan had been from the early 1950s up the late ‘90s producing roughly 80% of Gum Arabic globally, production has today dwindled to less than 50%. Hundreds of thousands of farmers in central, eastern and south western Sudan depend on Gum Arabic production. But no matter how low the production went, Sudan remained the world largest single producer. Before the exportation of Sudan's petroleum, Gum Arabic used to contribute 15% of the country's export revenue.
Dr. Isam Siddiq explains that the new acacia tree planting project is part of a comprehensive enterprise to replant one billion forest trees over an area of six million feddans. It will be divided into small various-area acquisition projects to be owned by the citizens.
The project's area would extend along the poor savanna Gum Arabic belt of the Savanna areas in Darfur, Kordufan, Blue Nile, Upper Nile, Sinar and Gedarif States.
The project includes planting of 3 million forests of around 1.75 feddans each, each forest hosting 300 trees. But of course the project will also include planting one million Baobab (locally known as the Tabaldy) trees, 200,000 Doam trees and 300,000 Dalaib trees, all of which are rich in vitamins (A) and (C). These will be planted in basic level school compounds and their surroundings so that school pupils can take care of them, learning how to preserve and protect the environment at the same time.
"The project would not only bring back life to the Gum Arabic belt, but it would ensure world self-sufficiency of probiotics, which researches proved that Gum Arabic is rich with," Dr. Isam says.
But what is Probiotics? Probiotics, according to 2001 FAO/WHO definition,are "live microorganisms which when administered in adequate amount confer a health benefit on the host.
Probiotics are thought to beneficially affect the host by improving its intestinal microbial balance, thus inhibiting pathogens and toxin producing bacteria. Today, specific health effects are being investigated and documented, including alleviation of chronic intestinal inflammatory diseases, prevention and treatment of pathogen-induced diarrhea, urogenital infections and atopic diseases.
"The world's need of Probiotics is estimated at 20 tones annually", said Dr. Isam Siddiq.
He further indicates that Probiotics are currently manufactured in rich countries, chemically using methods and techniques and biotechnology that may harm human health and menace the environment.
However, this same produce is found in natural form and in big quantities, in Gum Arabic. Gum Arabic is 30 times richer in Probiotics than apples and ten times beef calcium.
"The one-billion-tree project can at the same time combat global warming and provide thousands of job opportunities through the Gum Arabic belt, considered one of the poorest areas in Sudan and the world," he said.
According to Dr. Isam, the project stands on the idea that 3 million people in the world donate the financial cost for planting a fruitful forest or forest trees, provided that the authorities be in charge of the project planting and care for the trees until they bear fruit in about four years, before the forest is handed over to its owner.
Dr. Isam Siddiq, a Gum Arabic expert, explains that he and a dedicated group of environment, forests and public health professionals have already completed the measures needed to launch the project and that they are currently embarked on registering the project as a civil voluntary organization.
Edited by: Mohamed Osman
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