Gum arabic producers in South Sudan’s Upper Nile State report difficulties getting their product to international markets and shortage of labour in the state.

Marketing of the product, which for political reasons was renamed ‘African Gum’ in Upper Nile State, is also suffering from this rebranding, according to an industry official. 

Chairman of African Gum Producers Union Bol Deng Bol told Radio Tamazuj they face challenges in exporting the crop to global markets since the independence of South Sudan on 9 July 2011.

Bol said that Upper Nile state produces about 120,000 quintals annually and that they export through smuggling corridors into Sudan, and from there to international markets.

He said changing of the name from Gum Arabic to African Gum has negatively affected the crop in terms of marketing. Bol said the National Ministry of Agriculture in Juba has promised to consider finding alternative means of marketing and labour.

But he noted, “The ministry has failed to fulfill it promises so far.”

He urged the national government to find alternative markets for African gum and facilitate movement of agricultural labourers who cross from South Kordofan State into Upper Nile.

Sudan has historically been the world’s major producer of acacia gum. Some of the country’s gum-producing areas became South Sudanese territory after the secession of the region in 2011. 

UNEP photo

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