Timbuktu Chronicles

"A view of Africa and Africans with a focus on entrepreneurship, innovation, technology, practical remedies and other self sustaining activities.".....Emeka Okafor

Progressive Interventions analyses the flaws, promise and potential of the Frankincense market in Somalia ."...Market commentators and advisors suggest that pro-poor sub-sector growth has two phases.The first of these is developing a strong national production image leading to more direct market access including polishing and packaging higher grades of Maydi for the Saudi market. The second phase is in-country value-addition which is principally, frankincense essential oil distillation. For phase one, there are two immediate critical issues for Somali stakeholders which can be summarised as: (1) developing markets for frankincense; and, (2) making frankincense markets more accessible and equitable...Somalis also need to develop systems that provide information on market opportunities, prices and sales channels. The stakeholders need to work together to improve the poor international perception of their production region as well as Somali gum merchants in general. Organized merchant groups also need far greater access to affordable export finance to buy sufficient quantities of gum from collectors to service bulk export orders... Stakeholders need to work together to develop a transparent Code of Conduct for production and trading that addresses imbalances in production worker revenues and pay as well as improved working conditions. Quality gum export control systems need to established including systems and standards for increasing the availability of technical production skills. Technology needs to be developed to increase yields of higher grade Maydi. Capacity needs to be strengthened to identity and develop more direct international market linkages..."

Home | Contact us | Links | Archives