The Eastern Cape Development Corporation (ECDC) together with the Swiss based International Trade Centre (ITC) have agreed to put almost R4 million into expanding the province’s 241-year old Cape Aloe industry which aims to follow in the footsteps of Aloe Vera’s global success.

The initiative, Ikhala Products, brings together tapper and aloe product merchant Patrick Ndokwana’s knowledge of tappers and access to raw materials in the region, and Ken Dodd’s technical expertise as an experienced aloe product exporter. Some 30 tappers from the region have joined the two men and nine others in Seymour with the number expected to grow as the project expands.

The ITC is to contribute R2 million to the project, part of which will be used for appointment of a project coordinator for six months, and the development and delivery of training programmes regarding harvesting and environmental management and product development support.

ECDC project development manager Tokozile Boboyi says R1,4 million went into establishing Ikhala Products Pty Ltd which includes the costs for an extensive pre-feasibility study and in-depth business plan.

Ndokwana and seven tappers have registered a co-operative that has 10 per cent shares in the company. ECDC granted them a R300 000 loan. Project manager Ken Dodds’ 15 per cent share has contributed towards the plant and equipment. ECDC holds 75% shares which the co-operative and Dodds will at a later stage purchase.

“It’s a project with great potential. There is growing worldwide awareness in the health industry of the value of aloe derivatives,” Boboyi says.

Estimates put the global raw aloe market at $90 million per year with the Chinese market alone expected to reach an estimated US$ 2.4 billion by 2010.

This is good news for Ikhala as 80% of Aloe Ferox in South Africa is found in the Eastern Cape.

Demand for bitteralwyn, the produce from the plant which was first exported, remains strong. However, Dodds and Ndokwana are looking to rural tappers who have been using aloe juice for remedies for ailments, ranging from skin infections to roundworm. In 1984, a patented process removed the bitters from aloes, and removes the purgative effect of the aloes. Furthermore, the Medical Research Council is currently doing trials on an aloe-based product that could have curb diarrorhea in HIV positive people.

Ndokwana says tappers in the co-operative are enthusiastic about being trained in more sustainable methods. “They know there are things they could be doing better.” But the project’s training goes beyond these methods. Tappers will benefit from training in life skills, financial skills, general hygiene and HIV/AIDS.

Despite the project being in its fledgling stage, tappers’ income has increased from between R400 and R500 per month, to about R1 000 per month.

Pic caption (from left): Ikhala Products' Patrick Ndukwana, ECDC project manager Tokozile Boboyi, Ikhala Products' Ken Dodds, Vuyiswa Blaai and Glen Winterton