Despite the fact that a number of ethnobotanical studies have been carried out in many regions of the Democratic Republic of Congo, there is little information on the marketing of NWFPs in Congolese markets, despite their widespread use and trade. However, preliminary market studies of traded NWFPs have been recently carried out in the Kisangani (Eastern Province) and Beni (North-Kivu Province) markets. These studies have begun to provide data about the marketing and trade of a wide range of NWFPs in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and may contribute to the further understanding of the NWFP sector in this region and the potential for the sustainable use of the forest.
Key words: Democratic Republic of Congo, non-wood forest products, markets
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is the largest country in Central Africa, with a surface area of 2 345 000 km2 and contains the largest block of undisturbed tropical forest on the continent. However, even in the vast expanse of forest, commercial exploitation for timber, bushmeat and NWFPs has led to some areas of forest being significantly denuded. A number of strategies need to be developed to ensure that the conservation of the forest region takes place.
The sustainable harvest of NWFPs could contribute not only to preserving an important part of the tropical forest biological diversity but also might improve the lot of local communities through income generation and the equitable distribution of benefits. The NWFP sector in DRC is attracting increasing interest because of its role in the livelihood of forest dwellers, as well as the commercial potential for the development of novel medicinal, cosmetic and food products. However, before such development can take place, essential background information is needed to determine which NWFPs are of value and how they contribute to the local economy.
To this end, preliminary studies to assess the range importance of NWFPs in selected areas have been undertaken. Further reiterative studies will provide more information about the sector and the effects of seasonality. The objectives of these studies are:
· To make an inventory of the NWFPs sold in urban markets;
· To determine the marketing channels of NWFPs;
· To determine the plant parts used and modes of preparation;
· To assess the sustainability of the exploitation of selected NWFPs;
· To assess the potential (or need) for domestication of some NWFPs.
This preliminary study was conducted in the urban markets of Kisangani and Beni, situated in the Eastern and North-Kivu Provinces, respectively.
Kisangani is the largest town in the Eastern province and is located at the north-east of the Congolese central basin (03_1'N; 25_11'E). It has a hot and humid climate throughout the year. The town is situated in the region of Congo-Guinean lowland forest typical of the majority of the country, although in the immediate vicinity of the town, much of this forest has been severely affected by increased urban expansion.
A wide range of ethnic groups are present in Kisangani; the Baboli, Bowa, Wogenia, Bolengola, Mbole, Kumu, Yoka, Lokele, Topoke, Mashi, Ngombe, Turumbu, Songe and Babera, to name a few. For the purposes of this preliminary study, three markets were selected: the Makiso township market (or the October 27th market), the Tshopo and the Mangobo markets.
Beni is located in the eastern part of DRC near the boundary with Uganda and is characterised by a strong cross-border trading activity. The Beni local population is made up of "Nandes," who are essentially traders. The surrounding vegetation of the area is mountain savannah, but a wide range of products from the lowland forest are transported to Beni for sale. The small size of Beni, in comparison to Kisangani, means that there is only one urban market in the town.
The market survey was undertaken according to the methodology outlined by Clark and Sunderland (this volume). In addition, further information was gathered from the extensive literature available on household use of NWFPs. This includes:
· Bodkan and Droogers (1975) with a contribution to the ethnobotanic study of Kisangani Wagenia;
· Bagula (1977) on the traded plants in Kisangani markets;
· Wome (1977) on Kisangani medicinal plants;
· Udar (1983) a floristic survey of useful plants of the Batiabetwa of Mbié island in Kisangani;
· Boelongandi (1984) on edible fruits from the Kisangani region;
· Yekonda (1984) on purgative plants used at Kisangani;
· Birandano (1981) on medicinal plants treating venereal diseases at Kisangani;
· Vasolene (1987) a study of wild food-producing plants for the Kumu of Masako;
· Liengola (1989) on the survey of spontaneous food-producing plants of the Turumbu and of the Tshopo sub-region;
· Bhua (1991) on the spontaneous food producing plants sold at Kisangani markets, and their marketing channels;
· Wome (1985) on ethno-pharmaceutical research on medicinal plants used in traditional medicine at Kisangani.
Additional household surveys were conducted at Epulu (a station of Okapi Faunal Reserve), with the purpose of comparing the utilisation of NWFPs by urban and rural populations.
From the preliminary market surveys the most important NWFPs (in terms of value and abundance) were identified.
Table 1. The major NWFPs sold in the Kisangani and Beni markets
Scientific name |
Local name |
Part used |
Uses |
Market |
Gnetum africanum |
fumbwa (Kikongo) |
Leaves |
Vegetable |
Kisangani |
Piper guineensis |
bokango (Nonde) toketu (Lokele) |
Fruits |
Medicinal, condiment |
Beni and Kisangani |
Cola acuminata |
ngongoka (Nonde) libelu (Topoke) gbongbolia (Swahili) |
Seeds |
Aphrodisiac, medicinal |
Beni and Kisangani |
Garcinia cola |
bobale (Topoke) olale (Lokele) |
Seeds |
Aphrodisiac, medicinal |
Kisangani |
Aframomum spp |
ndehe (Nonde) tondolo (Swahili) soso (Topoke) |
Fruits and seeds |
Edible fruits, medicinal |
Beni and Kisangani |
Scorodophloeus zenkeri |
bumba (Topoke) |
Bark |
Condiment |
Kisangani |
Pentadiplandra brazzeana |
geene (Topoke) etekele (Lokele) |
Roots |
Medicinal |
Kisangani |
Thaumatococcus danielii |
longodo (Ngelema) mangongo (Swahili) |
Leaves |
Wrapping leaves, roof thatching |
Beni and Kisangani |
Elaeis guineensis |
nganzi (Swahili) |
Nuts, sap |
Palm oil, palm wine |
Beni and Kisangani |
Raphia spp |
mabondo (Swahili) |
Sap |
Palm wine |
Beni and Kisangani |
Fungi |
buyoka (Swahili) |
All |
Food |
Beni and Kisangani |
A number of condiments are sold in both markets. The fresh fruits of Piper guineensis are often eaten raw for their spicy taste. The fruits are also dried and are then pounded and sieved; this powder is added to tea or coffee or used for seasoning vegetables. Scorodophloeus zenkeri bark with its alleaceous smell (which is often very strong after rain) is also commonly used for seasoning sauces.
Aframomum spp. fruits are edible when fresh, their taste is both sweet (endocarp) and sour (seeds). The seeds are also sometimes used as a condiment. Cola acuminata and Garcinia kola seeds are consumed for their aphrodisiac and stimulatory properties. Raphia seeds are boiled and the yellow skin is eaten. Palm oil from Elaeis guineensis is much appreciated by the populations of Kisangani and Beni.
Gnetum africanum leaves are finely chopped and cooked as a vegetable. This NWFP is found in markets throughout the year (Bhua, 1991). Young white-yellowish shoots of Thaumatococcus danielii are cut off prior to cooking or they can be added with other vegetables to replace pieces of macaroni. Adult leaves are used for wrapping or for the building of roofs. Many species of edible mushroom are also widely sold in both markets.
The intoxicating palm wine is enjoyed by the majority of the local population, both rural and urban. Palm wine is tapped from both the oil palm, Elaeis guineensis, as well as from a number of species of Raphia. For the former, the palm is felled and the sap is tapped directly from the leaf terminal bud, whilst from the latter, the sap is harvested by incising the stem at the base of the inflorescence, or at the base of the leaf sheath.
Contrary to what happens in Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea where many of the forest population gather and use a number of medicinal plants (Sunderland and Obama, this volume), in DRC it is primarily traditional healers and traders of medicinal plants who are involved in the collection and sale of forest-based remedies. Many traditional healers do not want to share the secrets of the use of many medicinal plants. They are reluctant to share their benefits, nor do they want to lose their unique knowledge and monopoly of the trade and sale of medicinal plants in both markets.
The result of a preliminary household survey at Epulu has shown that the local population uses a wide range of NWFPs for food, medicinal, artistic, ornamental, ritual and magic purposes. At Epulu, more than one hundred species are used by the population, especially pygmies and, whilst some of these species are also represented in the markets studied, the majority are not.
The results of this preliminary NWFP market survey in Kisangani and Beni show that the populations of these towns know and use a number of NWFPs. However, compared to their utilisation by the rural population, NWFPs are conspicuously under-represented in the urban markets. This may be due to:
· The population under-estimates the market value of most NWFPs;
· NWFPs do not have enough retail outlets (transport is a particular problem);
· The sector is not particularly profitable;
· This population has other, more profitable income generating activities;
· NWFP gathering requires a lot of energy and effort for transportation and conversion;
· The laws concerning NWFP exploitation are very strict;
· There are no appropriate conservation techniques;
· The population has lost its ancestral customs and knowledge of the utilisation of forest natural resources.
Some studies in Kisangani, for example, have indicated that the trade in NWFPs is not particularly profitable, except for the trade in Gnetum africanum. Bhua (1991) found a total of only eleven food-producing species were sold in the markets of Kisangani, with Gnetum africanum being the most common. In contrast, Beni is the centre of extensive non-forest based commercial activities, and NWFP marketing and trade is not of sufficient interest for most traders.
The further quantitative data gathered on NWFPs sold at the Kisangani and Beni markets, and the understanding of the commercial trade channels, will be assessed through further study of these markets. In addition, continued comparison between household use of NWFPs and their formal trade will shed some light on the limited development of the NWFP sector in DRC and will perhaps provide insight into how the sector might be developed for a more meaningful contribution to both the rural and urban economies.
Baelongandi, L. 1984. Etude des plantes sauvages à fruits comestibles utiles à la population environnante de Kisangani. Monographie inédite, Fac. Sc., UNIKIS, 33 p.
Bagula, B.Z. 1977. Plantes commercialisées aux marchés de Kisangani. Mémoire inédite, Fac. Sc., UNIKIS, 73 p.
Bhua, D. N. 1991. Plantes alimentaires spontanées vendues aux marchés de Kisangani et l'étude de leurs circuits d'entrée. Monographie inédite, Fac. Sc., UNIKIS, 30 p.
Birandano, M. 1981. Les plantes médicinales contre les maladies vénériennes à Kisangani. Mémoire inédite, Fac. Sc., UNIKIS, 83 p.
Bokdam, J. & Droogers, A. F. 1975. Contribution à l'étude ethnobotanique des Wagenia de Kisangani, Zaire. Mededeling Landbouwhogeschool, Wageningen, 74 p.
Liengola, B. L. 1989. Contribution à l'étude des plantes alimentaires spontanées chez les Turumbu et les Lokele de la Sous-Région de la Tshopo (Haut-Zaire). Monographie inédite, Fac. Sc. UNIKIS, 43 p.
Udar, U. K. 1983. Contribution à l'étude des plantes utiles chez les Batiabetuwa à l'île Mbie (Kisangani). Monographie inédite, UNIKIS, Fac. Sc. UNIKIS, 49 p.
Vasolene, K. 1987. Plantes sauvages alimentaires chez les Kumu de Masako. Monographie inédite, Fac. Sc. UNIKIS, 38 p.
Wome, B. 1977. Plantes médicinales des Kisangani. Mémoire polycopié, Fac. Sc. UNAZA, (inédit).
Wome, B. 1985. Recherches ethnopharmaceutiques sur les plantes médicinales utilisées en médecines traditionnelle à Kisangani (Haut-Zaire). Thèse inédite, Fac. Sc. U.L.B., 561 p.
Yekonda, L. 1984. Les plantes purgatives utilisées dans la ville de Kisangani. Mémoire polycopié, Fac. Sc., UNIKIS, 59 p. (inédit).
