Natural Products
PFID/NP Accomplishments 2007
Quality Control and Quality Assurance
The development of Sanitary and Pyhto-sanitary systems has been identified as one of the key entery points for natural products market access. ASNAPP, supported by USAID funding, provided intervention in SPS and Food Safety programs to assist enterprises engaged in agricultural production and processing to comply with US and European SPS, bio safety, and HACCP Food Safety Standards. Our goal was to improve the quality and safety of food consumed locally in African communities and to increase market access for small and medium scale producers.
Paprika and Birds Eye Chilis
Rutgers University the QC protocols on paprika and bird's eye chilies, and led the work on development of quality systems on these natural products. Samples from paprika trials conducted by the Msekera and Chitedze Research Station in Zambia were analyzed.
QC laboratories for Southern Africa
To develop an operational QC lab in southern Africa, an assessment of the laboratories at the Msekera and Chitedze was conducted by Rutgers team members to determine the status of lab facilities for future in-country quality control analysis on spices and other botanical products. The assessment showed that the laboratories have all the critical equipment to carry out this work, though some further supplies will be needed.
Manketi and Parinari
The quality control procedures for Manketi and parinari oils (fatty acid composistion, free fatty acids, and peroxide value) were established. PFID/NP and ASNAPP are also championing the establishement of a QA/QC for Ikirezi in Rwanda. In partnership with other private companies, Finisher Project, USA, two laboratory equipment (refractometer and plarimeter) were donated to Ikirezi.
Ghana, Griffonia and Voacanga
In Ghana, ASNAPP championed the development of national trade standards for the two leading medicinal plant exports, Griffonia and Voacanga. The activity was undertaken in collaboration with the Ghana Standards Board and other key stakeholders. The standards have been approved through an appropriation workshop by the key stakeholders and presented to the WTO to be gazette. To further assist in providing technical information for the development of the standards, Rutgers conducted scientific analysis (cleanliness, active ingredient content, and the chemistry of the plant) on samples of Griffonia and Voacanga. The results of the analysis have been used as a baseline to establish standards. A training manual was produced for use by collectors and brokers of both plants. With the support of TIPCEE, the norms are being employed in the field as the check tools to accept or reject a product.
Over 50 communities involving 1,928 collectors (72%) and agents (28%) of Voacanga were trained on good collection and post-harvest practices in six regions of Ghana. A total of 1,241 collectors and brokers of Griffonia simplicifolia located in 24 districts and 52 communities were also trained on good collection and post-harvesting practices.
Participating in regional and inter-regional agendas, Rutgers University extensively evaluated the nutritional constituents of the Moringa leaves from three ASNAPP participating country programs: Ghana, Senegal, and Zambia. The results showed high ammounts of iron, calcium, and antioxidants. The parameters to meaure quality and nutritional value were designed for implementation in PFID/NP client countries. The results of this study will allow our project to select high yield cultivars that can be multiplied to farmers to enhance their production outputs. Currently, Zambia has raised and distributed over 5,000 seedlings of the improved cultivars to farmers.