The Role of Institutional Arrangements and Policy on the Conservation, Utilization and Commercialization of Indigenous Fruits in Southern Africa - Indigenous Fruit Trees in the Tropics: Domestication, Utilization and Commercialization - page 318

improve harvesting systems, methods and practices, by getting improved tools
and techniques, training and skills, incentive systems, institutional arrangements,
promotion of local facilities for processing and value addition and linking
harvesting to processing and markets (FAO, 1991).
17.3 Institutional and Policy Support for Development of IFTs
Policies that support the development of NWFP hardly exist, and where they are
mentioned or implemented often lack clear objectives, targets and development
strategies. There are few strategic plans, programmes and projects, legal rights
arrangements, incentives for development of skills, health and safety con-
siderations, access to information (lack of databases) and support for
investments from public administration. The involvement of local communities
in the development of IFTs requires appropriate legislation that provides them
with legal rights to encourage long-term investments and improvement. It is
necessary to organize various stakeholders, government, groups of women and
men, local communities and the private sector as a means to strengthening
institutions to develop NWFPs for their economic and ecological benefits (FAO,
1991; Akinnifesi et al. , 2006). This should address gender differentiation to
improve the effectiveness and benefits of IFTs programmes at the local level.
The development of various sectors is necessary in order to promote healthy
relationships between producers, industry and consumers. There is a need for
improvements in arrangements that cover access, control, management and
ownership of the resources, involvement of local people, groups, management
agencies, industry, trade and international assistance. IFT resources need to be
linked with national and emerging international market niches to support
sustainable development. In addition, there is a need to learn from one another,
exchange of information and experiences between countries, through
undertaking collaborative activities and development of a regional information
network (FAO, 1991). The provision of skills through training, capacity-building,
technology delivery, extension support, market information systems, credit
facilities, support to establish necessary infrastructure, and streamlining of forest
administration are some of the development support required. Other areas of
development should include harvesting, storage, processing, standardization
and marketing of products often regarded as suitable for local consumption only.
The sharing of benefits provides people with incentives to conserve and
sustainably manage their resources. Apart from security of tenure and
autonomy, there is need for provision of economic incentives, improvement in
access to credit, markets and prices. Most financial assistance is usually provided
to processors and exporters, but there is little financial assistance for sustainable
management of the harvesting of resources (FAO, 1991). This trend needs to be
reversed and improved upon.