Republic of Yemen Agricultural Research and Extension Authority (AREA)

Medicinal & Aromatic PlantsLessones and Impact in YEMEN

Enhancing the Contribution of Neglected and Underutilized

Species to Food Security and to Incomes of the Rural Poor

Prepared by:Dr. Mohamed Al- Nassiri (AREA)

YEMEN

Submitted to: IFAD - NUS

Project Develop. MeetingNOV. 2005

Project Coordinator and project scientists

• Main Implementing : Agricultural Research and Extension Authority( AREA )

• Faculty of Agriculture –Sana'a University

• Faculty of Agriculture –Aden University• Attareens• NGO

Background :

• The use of Medicinal and Aromatic plant species in Yemen goes back thousands of years and form an important part of the culture, Although many species concerned have fallen into disuse, some of the plants traditionally still play important role in the health and body care system .

• There is a long list of plants species in folk medicine as remedy for different disorders. Soqatra archipelago in Yemen conceder the fifth in the world in containing endemic species. There are about 273 endemic plant species most of them are of medicinal, cosmetic and aromatic use. Among the most commonly used plants are Dracaena cinnabari, Boswellia spp, and Aloe perryi.

• The use of Medicinal and Aromatic plant species in Yemen goes back thousands of years and form an important part of the culture, Although many species concerned have fallen into disuse, some of the plants traditionally still play important role in the health and body care system .

• There is a long list of plants species in folk medicine as remedy for different disorders. Soqatra archipelago in Yemen conceder the fifth in the world in containing endemic species. There are about 273 endemic plant species most of them are of medicinal, cosmetic and aromatic use. Among the most commonly used plants are Dracaena cinnabari, Boswellia spp, and Aloe perryi.

Selected Species for Research Studies

Aloe sppAloe

Nigella sativaNigella

Cuminium cyminumCumin

Coriandrum sativumCoriander

Lawsonia InermisHenna

Scientific Name Common Name

Distribution of Medicinal Plant in Yemen

• The project have been oriented lately towards revitalization of traditional sustainable agriculture production as an important step for agricultural development through income generating activities for poverty alleviation, food security and sustainable agriculture production.

• Information about the agronomy, Botanical, characterizations, processing, traditional use, cost benefit and marketing opportunities of the mandate crops were collected documented and distributed among beneficiaries, thus these steps gives the bases and momentum for achieving IFA-IPGRI Project goals.

• In addition, the project teams had the opportunities for deeply looking to the problems and study different alternatives to solve them. Therefore ,Activities such as cost benefit , marketing opportunity value chain added, rehabilitation( (rejuvenate ) of germplasm, information dissemination were included in the work plan.

IFAD IPGRI Project – Yemen Component :

and major millstone Achievements

• Problem area I :• Lack of required genetic

material of the species

Meeting with farmers

Seed purification and maintenance

•Setup of local germplasm supply systems among rural communities.

Problem area 2 :

• Loss of germplasm and traditional knowledge.

Foundation seeds produced by pilot farmers and certified by PGRC-AREA

9010Jawfi9010Anisi

Introduced from Syria

17065Suri

Introduced from India

19040HendiNigella

Introduced from Iran

14070Irani80-Baladi- SadahCumin27550Baladi

Introduced from Egypt

350150Massri220100AnisiCoriander

Mabar-Location-CH *

Al-Sadah-Location-CH

Notes Collected seeds (kg)Varieties Species

On farm conservation for targeted species

Mukalla3Eastern Costal area Henna

Abyan4 Southern Costal area Henna Dhamar3Central HighlandsCumin Dhamar3Central HighlandsCoriander Dhamar4 Central HighlandsNigella

Taiz, Mukalla25Southern UplandsAloe Dhamar11Central Highlands Aloe

Location No. of accession

Agro Ecological Zone Crop( Species )

Problem area 3 :

• Lack of knowledge on uses Constraints and opportunities

Henna- Henna boiled leaves used for treatment of skin burn.- Chewing henna leaves used for treatment mouth and Decay infections.- Henna Paste used for skin softness and hair coloring, and for women (variegate ) cosmetics .

Aloe • The leaves , the fresh leaf gel and latex

used for inflammatory bowel condition such as ;

• Crohn's diseases • gastritis • aids in healing wounds by draying out

infection• assist kidney function • relives arthritis • used for bacterial, Viral, Fungal

Parasitic Condition . and Finally Aloeused for skin soft and young

Nigella• Mainly used for food

flavoring ,

• Menstruation problem

• oil use for face softness Nigella

• Mixing nigella seed with honey, help in relieve stomach disorder.

Problem area 4: limited Income Generation

• Investigate and identify improved agronomic and production procedures

certified seeds provided for farmer

Problem area No. 5 Market commercialization and demand limitations

Monthly and Annually consumption for Yemeni family

1800.6360.4920.7320.0410.0410.061HENNA

4000.4800.4500.5000.0380.0380.042CORIANDER

6000.9600.8040.9960.0800.0670.083CUMIN

4500.6240.5880.6360.0520.0490.053NIGELLA

Republic

Urban Rural Repub

lic Urba

n Rural

Average price

/ Kg

Annually consume for Yemeni family

(T/fam)

Monthly consume for Yemeni family

(T/fam)CROPS

Increasing demand for NUSIn Ton

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

HennaCuminNigellaCoriander

200420052006

Costs benefits and margin income

1.881.451.892.341.77Benefit / Cost ratio

184.000139.000320.000476.500640.0000Net income

392.000392.000680.000832.500Total income

70/ kg 70 / kg 2000/ 1 kadah20000/ ton 45003200Prices in farm gate / kadah

5.65.622012 ton185200Production( kadah )

And green production (ton)

Benefits

208000253.000360000356000361000Total cost2000020000300003000030000Contingency

188000233000330000326000331000Sub total cost

800080000100006000060008 – transportation

20000200002000010000100007 – harvesting

800008000010000080000800006 – labors

00200000200005 – chemical fertilizer

0200002000020000200004 – manure fertilizer

800008000010000080000800003 – irrigation

015000450001150001000002 – seeds / seedling

01000015.00015000150001 – land preparation

Costs

HENNA2-3year

YR

HENNAFirst year

YR

CORIANDERYR

CUMINYR

NIGELLAYRItems

• Develop Improved low-cost post harvest techniques.• Development of value adding strategies through

processing, marketing and commercialization

Problem area 6Lack of research and development activities and weak

national capacities

•Characterize crops for agronomic, nutritional and market related traits •Investigate new areas of crop production •Short training courses for stockholder

Improvement of low cost post harvest technologies

Problem area 7 Lack of links across conservation and Production to consumption

•Promote the establishment of association of Herbalist and farmers• Formation of farmers leadership or those who have pioneered in community transformation .•Disseminate the howl packages of the available economical, agronomical , processing and other information .

Selection of extension staff ( Female and Male ) at various siteswho provide assistance in the initial implementationand facilitating the exchange of endogenous knowledge and experience among local communities

Meeting with Farmers

Problem area 8 Inappropriate and inadequate policy and legal frameworks

National Plant Genetic Resource Committee continues it's activities to facilitate local council to issue local regulations regarding NUS in the framework of the International Plant Genetic resource treaty

Partnership

-Meetings and Joint field visits were organized in the pilot areas.-Traveling workshop in the coastal area organized with participation of farmers, Researchers and extension agents.

Participation in Agricultural fairs

Exchange of experiences at the regional level

•Training in Egypt for Yemeni scientists .

• Farmers exchange visit.

Problems encountered and methods for overcoming them

Constrains facing the production, processing and marketing of medicinal plants

• Land tenure (small size of fields)

• Low Rainfall (Drought)

• Problems related to the lack of post harvest technology and marketing opportunity.

•Lack of know how on the issues of crops value added .•Competitive of Qat trees and other cash crops .

• Studies of the indigenous knowledge about the targeted species have been completed.

• Pure Seeds and Genetic material for interested farmers prepared and available in the AREA Gen-Bank.

• Seed Supply System (SSS) initiated using facilities approaches of other project ( out reach Program)

• Information and data base about market opportunities, for Hennaand Aloe have collected and will be used for further study, However for other species seems to be difficult and need more time and efforts

• More efforts and studies should be Gavin to the post harvest technologies .and closely work with Attareens and Private sector e.tHenna factory in Al-Mukalla must be the first priority in the coming period.

• Work and efforts to incourage private sector to invest in Aloe processing and utilization is badly needed.

Conclusions