PFID/NP South Africa
Our first project began in South Africa and the commercialization of herbal teas in Southern Africa is a classic example of linking farmers whom were previous wild-harvesters to world-markets, by cultivation practices and gradual implementation of post harvest techniques, processing and packaging to eventual full marketing to become a total sustainable community. PFID/NP team focuses on Honeybush (Cyclopia spp) and Rooibos (Aspalathus linearis) which are two indigenous herbal teas from South Africa. In both cases, ASNAPP intervened to bring the communities back into the business of role players in the South African herbal tea market. PFIDNP and ASNAPP investigated Honeybush and Rooibos propagation, conducted cultivation trials, and investigated post-harvest processing methods. Working with several communities, ASNAPP has assisted collectors to organize themselves into growers' groups, creating new entrepreneurs in agribusiness.
Through the intervention of ASNAPP-South Africa, in collaboration with PFID/NP and other partners and sponsors, such as Cape Natural Tea Products, USAID, LandCare, the Department of Agriculture and ARC (Agricultural Research Council), produced 900 tons of Rooibos and Honeybush teas for a value of $400,000 for 2006 and 2007. We were the first to introduce Honeybush into cultivation by the resource-limited small farmers than previously only wild crafted this product.