Natural Products
PFID/NP Accomplishments 2007
Enterprise Development
The development of small and micro enterprises (SMEs) in Africa has broad macro and micro economic, social, and environmental benefits. Because SMEs are a vital source of employment and income in most African countries and increasing their productivity and profitability is critical for broad-based economic growth and poverty alleviation. The development of SMEs is particularly beneficial to imporve the economic and social well being of women, youth, and other disadvantaged groups. ASNAPP and PFID/NP contribute to the development of SMEs by providing, business management skills, trechnical training from germplasm through production to post-harvest handling, and the diversification of income streams.
Enterprise Development Ghana 2007
In Ghana, ASNAPP mobilized over 3,000 collectors and 2000 agents and trained them in good collection practices of Griffonia and Voacanga. We facilitated supply of over $1.2 million worth of medicinal plants at the farmer level. Exporters of medicinal plants were also trained on interpritation of credit, business negotiations, marketing strategies, budgeting and good governance.
To help reduce over-reliance on wild collection, ASNAPP raised over 6,000 seedlings of Voacanga and provided technical assistance to communities for the establishment of a 50 acre plantation in the Kibi and Bawjiase areas. This plantation is expected to generate over $100,000 per annum to the farmers in the next two and half years.
In an effort to address supply chain constraints in the Lippia tea processing, ASNAPP Ghana has supported Trayonya tea processing cooperative to construct a dry house which will reduce drying time, maintain tea quality, and also minimize physical contamination. A hammer mill has also been purchased to process the tea at the community level, an activity which previously was performed in South Africa. The establishment of this processing facility at the community level will assist the group to obtain approval from the regulatory authorities to produce and market herbal teas on a commercial basis.