Ricks Kayizzi
30 December 2003
Kampala — A variety of lab tests on the suitability of Uganda's Gum Arabic for export and use in several industries have turned out positive.
This marks a major hurdle before Uganda can export to the United States and particularly to major buyers like the soft drinks giant, Coca Cola.
Local Gum Arabic is mainly grown in Karamoja and a few other parts of northern Uganda. President Yoweri Museveni has been closely associated with the efforts of getting an international market for the rare commodity.
Rosa Whitaker, president of the Whitaker Group, (a Washington D.C.-based consultancy firm) said recently, Uganda is to start shipping Gum Arabic to the US market early next year, after functionality tests on its quality, durability and market potential turned out positive.
She said that the Coca Cola, which has been paying for some of the tests, will be one of the main buyers.
"There is a lot of potential in this product, which can be exploited by many people in the northern part of the country to pull themselves out of poverty," she said.
She added that the growing of the crop does not need much initial capital.
Whitaker however strongly objected to the agriculture subsidies, which are being implemented by firms from the West, saying that they are strangling the commodity prices for products from developing countries.
However, there are advantages for Uganda in developing commercial production for Gum Arabic because it is a major ingredient in several foods including sodas, beers, salad dressings, and ice cream. It is also used in the pharmarceutical industry.
The Sudan is the world's leading producer. In 1996, when the US imposed economic sanctions on that country due to its links with terrorists organisations, major US firms sought and won an exemption on Gum Arabic exports from Sudan.
Another potentially leading supplier is northern Nigeria, where two years ago USAID helped fund a new testing laboratory in Jigawa State.
Importer Services Corporation, the largest gum processing firm in the US, last October announced it would buy the entire 2002 Gum Arabic crop from Jigawa State valued at $400,000 (about sh790m).
Another US firm, Atlantic Gums Corporation, is also providing technical know-how for the Jigawa venture.
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