Devil’s claw boosts Omaheke conservancies

MEMBERS of two communal conservancies in the Omaheke region last month generated close to N$300 000 from the sale of devil’s claw at their second buying event.

This is according to the Namibia Nature Foundation (NNF).

The two conservancies are the Eiseb and Omuramba ua Mbinda conservancies, the NNF coordinator for the Community-Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM) programme, Nabot Mbeeli, says.

Devil’s claw (Harpophytum procumbens) is an indigenous plant to southern Africa, and is widely used to treat arthritis, reduce pain and fever, and promote digestion.

More recently it has become an important product for export to the European market, especially to France and Germany.

NNF, with funding of N$1,5 million from the Social Security Commission’s Employment Creation Scheme, has sought to support and equip around 100 devil’s claw harvesters from the two conservancies over two years.

This support aims to assist members of these conservancies to become more independent through self-employment, and to successfully generate an income by harvesting and selling the plant.

Mbeeli says since the first buying event at Okatumba Gate – a large tract of land in the Otjombinde constituency – in August 2020, two storage units have been constructed at Eiseb 10 and Okutumba Gate to serve as established buying units to be managed by the conservancies.

The first buying event generated N$160 000.

“Amid a global pandemic that has now had a prolonged economic downturn, investments in income-generating opportunities, especially within rural areas, remain of vital importance, as unemployed people and those who have lost jobs retreat to villages for survival as urban areas prove to be difficult to live in,” Mbeeli says.

He says the second devil’s claw buying event was organised by the two conservancies with support from the NNF, and was held on 9 and 10 July at Okatumba Gate.

At the event, harvesters had the opportunity to sell their goods at what they termed a good price, without needing to travel long distances to find a buyer.

Mbeeli says around 5 000 kg of devil’s claw was sold to EcoSo Dynamics at N$58 per kilogramme, of which N$6 is subsidised for the administration of the conservancies’ buying point.

The administration of the conservancies, according to Mbeeli, plays a vital role in the selling price of devil’s claw by ensuring that the quality of the plant sold at these buying points is of high standard, and that best harvesting practices are adhered to.

Furthermore, it allows for the safeguarding of this natural resource by ensuring it is harvested sustainably.

The manager of the Eiseb conservancy, Jacquiline Kandapaera, and the manager of Omurumba ua Mbinda, Erwin Tjituka, says should sustainable harvesting continue, devil’s claw would continue to generate income for the community members and their families.

The NNF also provides support to devil’s claw harvesters in the Kavango East and West regions by facilitating market access and technical support services.

It assists with the provision of the equipment required by harvesters for sustainable harvesting and processing.

Conservancies that have benefited from this support include the Maurus Nekaro, Kapinga ka Mwalye, and George Mukoya conservancies.

In Namibia devil’s claw is listed as a protected species under the 1977 Nature Conservation Ordinance of the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, and may not be harvested or exported without the correct permit.

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