The Eastern Cape Development Corporation (ECDC) has secured a further R817 000 grant funding from the Swiss-based International Trade Corporation (ITC) for its pioneering aloe ferox project.

The project, run in partnership with Ikhala Products and African Aloe, facilitates the harvesting of the aloe ferox plant. The plant extract of the aloe ferox, which competes favourably with the worldwide renowned aloe vera, is used in the production of cosmetics, juices and other medicinal products.

Already about R381 000 of the grant has been released to facilitate the first phase of training for tappers in the King William’s Town, and Seymour. It will also include the training of Ikhala factory and admin staff as well as the appointment of a co-op manager for six months.

’ SETA-approved registered providers will be utilised to conduct the required technical and environmental training. The aim of this training is to further improve tappers understanding of the aloe ferox industry, harvesting and production, and environmental management of the plant. Further business training is also to be provided to tappers. Some tappers will also undergo train-the-trainer training. The funding also covers the cost of uniforms which is provided during training.

In addition, the funding will address the project’s management, marketing and administrative skills. The ITC is also to second a project administrator assistant to the project for six months.

“All these initiatives will help the people involved with the project to understand how each of their efforts are going to help us meet international standards of our clients,” says ECDC project development manager Toko Boboyi.

The project has huge job creation prospects for poor rural communities especially since the province has over 80 per cent of South Africa’s aloe ferox resources.

“Greater success in aloe ferox harvesting also means that we will be able to use these business practices in harvesting other valuable herbs.”

The province is also home to other medicinal herbs such as the pelargoniums which are used in the cure of stomach ailments and dysentery.

To date, families involved in aloe ferox harvesting have had their incomes boosted by R1 000 a month.

The project, which was presented to the G7 at the end of 2005, was received with enthusiasm, particularly for its sound environmental elements. Similarly, the province’s premier is equally enthusiastic about the project.

Boboyi reiterates that she remains concerned about the environmental risks of the project.

“The uncontrolled harvesting of this plant cannot continue. We need sound regulation of aloe ferox and other indigenous herbs. Government must develop a process that allows local communities to benefit from resources found within their areas,” she ends.

It is the second tranche of funding from ITC who provided financing for the start-up of the project.

In another first for the project, the ITC has named the project its number one poverty alleviation project globally.