Potentials | Constraints |
Ø Availability of gum Arabic producing trees (Hashab and Taleh). Ø Conducive climatic conditions for tree growth and gum production. Ø Available land to establish and expand the plantation. Ø Willingness of the local producers to involve in tree planting and gum collection. Ø High demand for the product in the local and international market. Ø The establishment of the gum Arabic Council Governance Institution. Ø Gum Arabic is part of the tri-partite economic programme the government depends on economic reform, export development, and enhancement of Sudan’s economy. | Ø Lack of land ownership by the local community Ø The decreased forest area due to traditional farming and encroachment of mechanized farming, overgrazing and burn resulted into loss of species and habitat destruction. Ø Limited availability of water and labor in the production zones. Ø Charcoal traders were another threat to the natural forests and marginal lands. Ø Floor price which encourages producers is not stable and fluctuating every season. Ø Lack of experience and poor working culture of the local people to harvest gum Arabic. Ø Over-grazing and woodcutting. Ø Production levies and fees imposed by the authorities obstructing production. Ø Smuggling gum to neighboring countries, due to the government insistence on imposing fees and levies on the commodity. |