An Analysis of Access in Devil’s Claw (Harpagophytum Spp.) Harvesting and Trade in Namibia

Abstract

Devil’s claw (Harpagophytum spp.) is a wild plant harvested from Namibia and traded in the international market. This article examines the historical and current social and political-economic relations that determine the mechanisms of access by which benefits from devil’s claw are derived by harvesters. Based on qualitative research, the article reveals how colonialism, traditional authority and community-based natural resource management shape access to markets, knowledge, technology, capital, authority and harvesting rights. Harvesters benefit primarily through the provision of income and in some cases, the delivery of training, equipment and reduced permit fees. Benefits did not alleviate producer dependencies and inequalities were reinforced at the intersection of race, class and gender. Considering new access and benefit-sharing legislation in Namibia, the article highlights caveats that may perpetuate, rather than alleviate, inequitable trade relations and suggests a (re)interpretation of access and benefit-sharing in implementation toward transformation of wild plant industries in Southern Africa.

Keywords:

• Access and benefit-sharing
• non-timber forest products
• Southern Africa
• traditional authority
• traditional knowledge

Acknowledgements

A heartfelt thank you goes to the communities of Balyerwa Conservancy, Lubuta Community Forest and Sachinga–to all the participants who willingly gave of their time and shared their experiences and knowledge. I would like to particularly thank Miriam Chahuli and Beauty Manyando from Balyerwa Conservancy; Bester Mtilumuke, Innox Tembwe, Orbet Makumbi and Precious Ntirimuke from Lubuta Community Forest; and Gediaus Mukuchila from Sachinga. I would also like to thank Professor Rachel Wynberg for helpful feedback on the draft of this article, as well as my colleagues at the Bio-economy Research Chair for their suggestions. This paper is based on the results chapters of my Ph.D. dissertation titled “Digging deeper for benefits: rural local governance and the livelihood and sustainability outcomes of devil’s claw (Harpagophytum spp.) harvesting in the Zambezi Region, Namibia” lodged at the University of Cape Town.

Ethical approval

Ethics approval for this research was obtained from the University of Cape Town Faculty of Science Research Ethics Committee, approval code FSREC 02–2015. Each participant was provided with a clear explanation of the research and the reasons for gathering the data. A simplified version of the Informed Voluntary Consent to Participate in Research Study form was prepared and translated into SiLozi and made available to participants prior to undertaking face to face interviews or focus group meetings. Each section was explained and participants were asked to sign the forms if they were satisfied with the provisions in the form. Some participants preferred to give their consent verbally, in which case it was recorded and also documented for their records.

Notes

1 Regulations Under Access to Biological and Genetic Resources and Associated Traditional Knowledge Act, 2017.

2 As a conversion rate from US$ to N$ the average rate of 1:13 was used from 2017 when the data were procured.

3 Constitution of Namibia 1990, Art. 102(5) and 66(1).

4 Access to Biological and Genetic Resources and Associated Traditional Knowledge Act No. 2 of 27 June 2017.

5 Regulations Under Access to Biological and Genetic Resources and Associated Traditional Knowledge Act, 2017 p. 6.

Additional information

Funding

This research was funded by the University of Cape Town, the South African Research Chairs Initiative of the Department of Science and Innovation and the National Research Foundation of South Africa. Any opinion, finding and conclusion or recommendation expressed in this material is that of the author and the National Research Foundation does not accept any liability in this regard.