SUSTAINABLE MARKET DEVELOPMENT FOR NON TIMBER
Abdul
Latif and Zabta Khan Shinwari
Abstract
Non timber forest
products consist of goods of biological origin other than timber.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Key
Words: Non timber forest
products, Sustainable market development,
OVERVIEW OF NTFPs IN
Non-timber forest
products (NTFPs) refer to a wide array of economic or subsistence materials
that come from forests, excluding timber. Some of the important NTFPs are:
A) Food
products
Morels/Mushrooms
Variety of morels are found in forest
and rangelands, like Morchella esculenta, M. crassipes, M. vulgaris, M. deliciosa, Conocyba crispa, C. comatus, Cantharellus floccsus, M. conica, M. anqusticipt, Boletus luteus, other morels like oysters, padakis,
lapoita, polyporus, Ink
cap, earthstar and meadow mushroom etc (Rehman et al, 2000). In
Honey
Honey is obtained from different
bee species likes Apis cerana
(Oriental bee), A. dorsa (Rock bee), A. florea
(Little bee), A. mellifera (European bee) etc. Honey
is extracted from wild, migratory and stationary beekeeping methods. Between 55
to 65 tonnes of honey is collected each year in the country from wild
beehives. About 850 to 950 tonnes of honey is
produced only in NWFP. Honey obtained from hill bee is 62.5 tonnes
per year while Rock and European bee produces 66.2 tonnes
and 133.3 tonnes year. According to statistics of
Export Promotion Bureau, 2002, total production of honey was 4,647 tonnes. The price of honey depends on quality of honey.
Price ranged from 100 to 350 rupees per kg, while prices of honey on roadside
range from Rs 100 to 120 per kg. Although honey is
produced in country but this production cannot meet the demand. That’s why
Wild Fruits and Nuts
Various species of nuts
are found in different areas of
Total production of pine nut in the
country is estimated 21,000 tonnes. The price of pine
nuts ranges from Rs 200 to 400 per kg and total value
is worth of 37.5 million per year. In addition to domestic consumption, pine
nuts are exported to the
Wild Vegetables
Various species are often found in
the
Condiments and Spices
These species includes; dried
seeds of wild pomegranate (Punica granatum), locally
known as "anar dana,”. They are used for producing sour taste in dishes. The total production of anar
dana was 69 tonnes from whole country in 1999-00 (Agriculture Statistic
of Pakistan, 99-00). The fruit yields 90 to 95 tons of dried seed and about 100
tonnes of skin. Tanneries in
B) Animal Products
Silk cocoons
Mulberry (Morus alba) is
the key species for production of silk cocoons. Total production of dry silk
cocoons was about 245 tonnes (
C) Industrial
Products
Vegetable tanning
Kikar or "babul" (Acacia
nilotica) is
main species of extracting vegetable tanning of hides in
Bhabar grass
These species includes Bhabar (Euliopsis binata), Sonagaria (Andropogon Schoenamthus),
Biab grasses, Pataka (Abutilon bidentatum),
Kana (Saccharum
sp.) grasses etc. Pataka yields smooth silvery fibers
used for making ropes and string for bed etc. About 605,040 kg were extracted
from the circles of Sukker, Ghulam Mohammed Khan
Barrage, Hyderabad Multan and
D) Fibers
Mazri leaves
Mazri is the local name for dwarf palm (Nannorrhops ritchiana). It is a gregarious, tufted,
and shrubby palm, growing naturally in dry tropical regions of
E) Miscellaneous Products
Oils
Main types of oils
obtained, are caster oils, peppermint oil, menthol, lemon oil and orange oil, eucalyptus oil, olive (Olea europea), Avocado (Persea americana Mill.)
and different types of nuts like Shinay nuts (Pistaca atlantica), P. chinensis, P. vera etc and walnuts (Juglans regia) etc are used for oil extraction (Daud, 1994). The production of caster oil was 174,770 kg in
Walnut bark
Bark is obtained from Juglans regia. Both the stem and roots are used for
teeth cleaning by women, as it imparts a pinkish color to the lips. Prior to
the ban, the bark was exported to the
Gums
Main specie for gum extraction is Acacia modesta (Palosa) and Acacia
Basketry
For basketry, species of Tamarix dioica and
mulberry are used. Total annual production is estimated to be 600,000 baskets,
consuming 2,000 to 2,500 tonnes of raw materials each
year. This produces revenue of Rs. 3 million each
year (Iqbal, 1991). The baskets are transported to
the nearby towns where they are sold to the shopkeepers at an average price of
Rs.15 each.
Seabuckthorn
There
are mainly 05 species found in mountainous areas of
METHODOLOGY OF THE STUDY
Though medicinal plants
represent major chunk of NTFPs and many scientists have reviewed it (Shinwari et. al. 2003). Hence in the present study,
it is excluded. The compilation of work is necessary not only for proper
planning and management of NTFPs but also to get acquainted with present
situation of NTFPs. While looking at greater dependence of the rural population
on NTFPs, it is high time to review the current status of NTFPs for better
planning and management. Based on review a strategy will be formulated on
sustainable utilization of NTFPs. The methodology for the project was based on
three material collection methods i.e.
·
Literature Review
·
Visit to various departments and
Institutions
·
Personal interviews
Available
literature (books, journals, research papers and articles etc) about NTFPs was
reviewed. Sources of these literatures were Pakistan Forest Institution (PFI),
Weed Sciences Department, Agriculture University Peshawar, Forest Department,
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Production
of Different NTFPs
The production of various Non-Timber Forest
Products varies according to the favorability and suitability of climate, soil,
and water. The amount of production changes from season to season in each year.
Based on data shown in the Table 1, production of
resin is reduced 80-85%, which is mainly due to the ban by government. In
international markets the value of crude resin is low, that’s why instead of
extracting, govt. is importing resin. The synthetic
products have also replaced resin. Mazri palm’s
production was reduced to 70% in 1999-00 compared to 1991-92. But according to
statistic of agriculture, in 2000-01, the production of Mazri
increased to 95% as compared to that in 1999-00 i.e. 394,559 tonnes. Further details about production of various
products are given in Table 1. Production of some products has been increased
due to cultivation, proper technique development and management, and people and
govt. attitude towards more profitable products etc.
Table
1 Shows Annual Production of various
|
Products |
1991
- 92 tones |
1999-2000
tones |
|
Morels |
55 |
75.3 |
|
Honey |
1214 |
4647 |
|
Fruits |
21,800 |
- |
|
Walnuts |
20,000 |
- |
|
Vegetable |
60 |
- |
|
Condiments |
300 |
- |
|
Silk cocoons |
245 |
- |
|
Lac |
80 |
- |
|
Vegetable Tannin |
4,000 |
- |
|
Mazri
leaves |
37,315 |
3400 |
|
Resins |
3,600 |
447 |
|
Bhaber
grass |
993 |
- |
|
Soap nuts |
250 |
- |
Sources:
Iqbal 1991, Iqbal 1993, EPB
2001
Some local communities are going for cultivation of
various profitable products for their own needs or with the help of some
institutions and programs/organizations. These products include; different types
of morels, honey, Mazri palm, different types of
vegetables and fruits, seabuckthorn, etc. So, the
domestication different plants is increasing due to lesser availability of
products extracted from the wild and some of the restrictions by government department
like “Mazri Control Act, 1953”.
As current figure of various products was not
available, however, if we do the comparison products-wise, then production of
morels, honey, resin, and Mazri leaves was 8,569 tonnes in 1999-00 while production of these products was
42,184 tonnes in 1991-92. This comparison can be seen
in Diagram 1. Seeing the actual figure honey and morel production was more but
the production of other products like Mazri leaves
and resin was less due to various bans and taxes.
Diagram 1. Showing the Comparison of Selected NTFPs
Although limited amount of recent data was
available but the overall situation of various NTFPs
production fluctuate throughout the years due to seasonal variations,
unfavorable climate, target group interest, previous year’s prices and market
trends, quality of produce, bans and restriction etc. For example the
production of Mazri palm and resin, which are the two
important products but due ban by the forest department on their harvesting,
collection or extraction, their production is reduced to 70%.
Prices
of Various NTFPs
As the demands in international market
changes, the rate of collection and production also changes. Simultaneously,
the good price leads to high production and extraction. In past, the prices
were too low as compared to present situation like the price of morels,
especially Morchella esculenta, were
2,460 per kg in 1991 and now the prices range from Rs.4,300 to Rs. 7,000-7,500 per kg, while that price in 1960 was Rs. 80 per kg. This difference in price,
is due to international market demand, better level income from morels and law
of demand and supply. Similarly, the price of honey was Rs.
80 in 1991 and in 2002, its prices ranges from 210 to 280 per kg. If the prices are inflated at 10% per year (10 years 1*1010),
then the inflation rate will be 2.59. If we multiply 2.59 with the
baseline year’s price than resultant will give us the actual situation of
increase or decrease in prices. For
further details see Table 2.
Table 2 Shows the Prices of Different NTFPs in
|
Price |
1991-92 (Rs. Per Kg) |
2001-02 (Rs. Per Kg) |
Inflated prices at 10%
per year |
|
Morels (Morchella esculenta) |
2400 |
4300 |
6,216 |
|
Honey |
75 |
195.00 |
194.2 |
|
Walnuts |
12.00 |
30 |
31.0 |
|
Wild persimmons |
4 |
14.00 |
10.3 |
|
Chalghoza |
40 |
300.0 |
103.6 |
|
Kachnar |
5.00 |
12.00 |
12.9 |
|
Suhanjna |
8.00 |
15 |
20.7 |
|
Kunjai |
7.00 |
12.00 |
18 |
|
Anar
Dana |
82.0 |
110.0 |
212.3 |
|
Caraway |
103.0 |
160.0 |
266.7 |
|
Silk Cocoons |
250.0 |
400.0 |
647.5 |
|
Resin |
28.07 |
35.50 |
72.7 |
|
Mazri |
2.45 |
6 |
6.3 |
|
Bamboo |
5 Ft |
12.00 Ft |
12.9 |
Note: The prices of different products are given at local
Level,
which sell them to the middlemen or shopkeeper.
Table 2, shows that price of honey, Mazri, bamboo and kachnar etc
remained the same, due to consumer interests in usage, synthetically produced
substituted the products, demand in the market and availability in the markets
etc. In case of morels the inflated price is 60% more than the current price of
4,300, which means that the prices of morels has been
decreased. This may be due the unsustainable harvest by the local, external
pressures on ecosystem, increase in population, lesser demand in importing
countries due morels cultivation techniques development and quality of the
produce. Similarly the prices of caraway, silk cocoon and anar
dana has been also decreased
due to synthetically produced products and demand in the markets. But the price
of certain products has been increased like Chalghoza.
Prices of Chalghoza increased 200% due to
professional involvement of local people for more economic benefits, demand in
international markets, supply to the international markets etc.
Diagram
2 Showing fluctuation in prices of various NTFPs in Pakistan
Exports
of Different products