Devil's Claw Takes a Dip - by Wezi Tjaronda
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WINDHOEK - Demand for devil's claw has nosedived forcing prices to dip by between N$4 to N$6 per kilogramme.
Due to low demand, some harvesters that have no contracts with buyers might not be able to sell their harvest, according to Deputy Executive Director of CRIAA-SADC, Dave Cole.
Namibia last year exported just over 650 tonnes of devil's claw, but this year, "we will be lucky to export 200 tonnes," he said.
It is suspected that one or some buyers have stockpiled on the medicinal tuber and that they do not have to buy it until they finish their stockpile.
West Caprivi, Nyae Nyae, N≠Jaqna and farmers in the Omaheke region have contracts with buyers while others sell directly to middlemen who in turn export the devil's claw.
"Those with contracts can at least sell but other harvesters without will not be able to sell their stuff," he added.
The low demand and drop in prices will mainly affect communities whose livelihoods are dependent on especially harvesting and selling devil's claw. Last year, more than 1Â 900 harvesters in three regions namely Otjozondjupa, Omaheke and Caprivi earned about N$2.8 million from selling organic and sustainably harvested devil's claw. Devil's claw tubers contain concentrations of analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. Two species, harpagophytum procumbens and H. Zeyhri occur in Namibia.
Of these harvesters, 655 harvesters are from N≠Jaqna conservancy, 377 are from Nyae Nyae and 347 harvesters from Bwabwata. Households in N≠Jaqna earned N$945Â 000, Nyae Nyae N$561Â 000 while commercial farmers that form the Sandveld Conservancy jointly earned N$464Â 000.
Namibia is by far the biggest supplier of devil's claw accounting for 95 percent of the world's market of about 500 tonnes per year.
But, Cole says the industry faces a Catch-22 situation because communities cannot withhold the produce because they depend on the tubers, which is their only source of income.
At the same time, if they sell, they would be supplying the system, which is already benefiting from the low prices arising from the suspected stockpile.
"If we do not sell, the poor households will suffer more because they need the money," he added.
The main problem the harvesters face presently is that the devil's claw industry in Namibia is not organised (there is no exporters association) and there are no meaningful partnerships with importers.
"As much as Namibia is trying to work with communities, if buyers do not work with Namibian suppliers, they do not pass on what is due to communities that harvest the medicinal pant," he said.
In addition, the country lacks local value addition while there is also illegal and unsustainable harvesting going on. There is also cross-border trade with Angola.
In a presentation made to the Conservancy Association of Namibia (CANAM) recently, Cole said the approximate value of trade in Namibia last year was 650 tonnes, which was sold at an average price of N$33/kg amounting to N$21.5 million. However, income to harvesters at an average price of N$18/kg was N$11.7 million.
The estimated annual global retail sales of devil's claw products is between € 35 million and € 50 million per year.
Namibia's devil's claw is exported to Germany, Poland, France, Spain, South Africa and the United States.
Devil's claw products, according to Cole, are registered as Herbal Medicines in Germany and France and Food Supplements in the UK, the Netherlands, America and the Far East.
Devil's claw in Namibia is listed as a protected species under the Nature Conservation Ordinance of 1975.
Permits are required for both harvesting and exporting. The harvesting season is March 1 until October 31.
Since this year, "buy and sell" permits are required to indicate the specific location.
Devil's claw in Germany is the third most used medicinal plant.
"In Germany prescriptions of devil's claw increased from 40 percent in 2000 to 60 percent in 200l," he said.
It is used for about 74 percent of the treatments for rheumatism in Germany and about 57 pharmaceutical products marketed by 46 different companies in Germany alone, said Cole.
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Due to low demand, some harvesters that have no contracts with buyers might not be able to sell their harvest, according to Deputy Executive Director of CRIAA-SADC, Dave Cole.
Namibia last year exported just over 650 tonnes of devil's claw, but this year, "we will be lucky to export 200 tonnes," he said.
It is suspected that one or some buyers have stockpiled on the medicinal tuber and that they do not have to buy it until they finish their stockpile.
West Caprivi, Nyae Nyae, N≠Jaqna and farmers in the Omaheke region have contracts with buyers while others sell directly to middlemen who in turn export the devil's claw.
"Those with contracts can at least sell but other harvesters without will not be able to sell their stuff," he added.
The low demand and drop in prices will mainly affect communities whose livelihoods are dependent on especially harvesting and selling devil's claw. Last year, more than 1Â 900 harvesters in three regions namely Otjozondjupa, Omaheke and Caprivi earned about N$2.8 million from selling organic and sustainably harvested devil's claw. Devil's claw tubers contain concentrations of analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. Two species, harpagophytum procumbens and H. Zeyhri occur in Namibia.
Of these harvesters, 655 harvesters are from N≠Jaqna conservancy, 377 are from Nyae Nyae and 347 harvesters from Bwabwata. Households in N≠Jaqna earned N$945Â 000, Nyae Nyae N$561Â 000 while commercial farmers that form the Sandveld Conservancy jointly earned N$464Â 000.
Namibia is by far the biggest supplier of devil's claw accounting for 95 percent of the world's market of about 500 tonnes per year.
But, Cole says the industry faces a Catch-22 situation because communities cannot withhold the produce because they depend on the tubers, which is their only source of income.
At the same time, if they sell, they would be supplying the system, which is already benefiting from the low prices arising from the suspected stockpile.
"If we do not sell, the poor households will suffer more because they need the money," he added.
The main problem the harvesters face presently is that the devil's claw industry in Namibia is not organised (there is no exporters association) and there are no meaningful partnerships with importers.
"As much as Namibia is trying to work with communities, if buyers do not work with Namibian suppliers, they do not pass on what is due to communities that harvest the medicinal pant," he said.
In addition, the country lacks local value addition while there is also illegal and unsustainable harvesting going on. There is also cross-border trade with Angola.
In a presentation made to the Conservancy Association of Namibia (CANAM) recently, Cole said the approximate value of trade in Namibia last year was 650 tonnes, which was sold at an average price of N$33/kg amounting to N$21.5 million. However, income to harvesters at an average price of N$18/kg was N$11.7 million.
The estimated annual global retail sales of devil's claw products is between € 35 million and € 50 million per year.
Namibia's devil's claw is exported to Germany, Poland, France, Spain, South Africa and the United States.
Devil's claw products, according to Cole, are registered as Herbal Medicines in Germany and France and Food Supplements in the UK, the Netherlands, America and the Far East.
Devil's claw in Namibia is listed as a protected species under the Nature Conservation Ordinance of 1975.
Permits are required for both harvesting and exporting. The harvesting season is March 1 until October 31.
Since this year, "buy and sell" permits are required to indicate the specific location.
Devil's claw in Germany is the third most used medicinal plant.
"In Germany prescriptions of devil's claw increased from 40 percent in 2000 to 60 percent in 200l," he said.
It is used for about 74 percent of the treatments for rheumatism in Germany and about 57 pharmaceutical products marketed by 46 different companies in Germany alone, said Cole.
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