Dec 14, 2020(Nyamilepedia) — South Sudan launched the export of Gum Arabic for the first time to international markets last week.
According to South Sudanese officials, South Sudan produces most of the Arabic gum in the world since it gained independence in 2011.
The Vice President for Economic Cluster, Dr. James Wani Igga said that large production of the gum is because the acacia tree that produces the gum are grow in the central, western, and northern parts of the country adding that there was need to motivate farmers by conducting trainings to educate them.
“Let the world know that indeed South Sudan is the original mother of this Gum Arabic because we have more forest than anywhere. Furthermore, let’s render the needed motivation to our producers and producing farmers and since the trees are almost everywhere in the country the economic cluster must conduct training workshops to educate our ignorant farmers and people,” Igga said.
According to Igga, growing the gum Arabic tree in organized plantations could increase its production and it might substitute oil in generating revenue.
“If we put our energy in the production of Gum Arabic, we can easily forget about the oil. Oil is what makes us lazy. Let us encourage farmers to plant Gum Arabic in organized plantations. The government intervention in terms of support in addition to finance is possible,” he added.
South Sudan is set to export about 22 tons of Gum Arabic.
Prior to the South Sudan establishing its own export company, it depended in Sudan for export of the cash crop.
According to a 2018 study by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), Gum Arabic has the power to drive development in the African nations that produce it.
UNCTAD’s report projected the potential for revenue growth in countries that can transform the product into processed export goods.
