K Mosunkutu: Launch of Medicinal Plant Incubator Project

Programme Director
The Chief Executive Officer of ARC, Mr Shadrack Maphuli
Chairperson of the Indigenous Knowledge System of Southern Africa, Dr Wally
Serote
Government officials and officials from the Agricultural Research Council
Representatives of our traditional health practitioners
Invited guests
Ladies and gentlemen

I am truly delighted to join you at this auspicious event. Reflecting on the
importance of this event, my subconscious mind summoned to the fore the
celebrated speech of President Thabo Mbeki 'I am an African.' Today it indeed
feels good to be an African, to borrow from this seminal speech of our
President.

The medicinal plant incubator project that we today are launching
celebrates, preserves and promotes this dynamic africanness, an indigenous
heritage that should not rigidly be compartmentalised into spiritual, musical
or folklore, to mention but a few aspects of our culture. People with refined
knowledge of heritage assert that it encompasses craftsmanship, language,
cultural expression, dances, ceremonies and ethno-botanical knowledge, amongst
other important aspects. Social scientists inform us that indigenous people
around the world have continuously sought knowledge of the physical reality
that surrounds them. This body of knowledge is codified in the indigenous
knowledge systems.

Vel Suminguit, an anthropologist and ethno-botany scholar attached to the
United Nations (UN), made important observations in relation to the indigenous
knowledge systems. Giving background information to a report submitted to the
United Nations, Suminguit observed that 'a major component of this body of
traditional knowledge is about the inter-action between human societies and the
plant kingdom and more specifically, how indigenous peoples perceive, manage
and utilise the plants around them.'

Consistent with this observation, this medicinal plant incubator project
has, as one of its primary objectives, a duty to ensure the preservation,
propagation, recording and informing us on how to better manage ethno-botany.
This is a critical task especially considering the local and international
pressure arising from competing land use needs and sheer arrogance in relation
to biodiversity. This is compounded by other genuine needs for ethno-botanic
usage.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that approximately between 70
and 80% of the populations of developing countries rely on traditional
medicine. South Africa has a remarkable biological and cultural diversity. Part
of our ecosystem boasts thousands of plant species. Over 30 000 of these
species are reportedly utilised as medicine in one form or another and about
350 of these are still commonly used and traded as medicinal plants. Available
reports estimate that approximately 20 000 tons of medicinal plants are used by
at least 27 million consumers each year. This places considerable strain on the
wild populations from which these products are harvested.

In Gauteng, numerous species are harvested, especially from our grasslands,
which are already under pressure through the demand for land for housing,
agriculture as well as pollution and the other pressures relating to the large
urban populations living within the province. It is estimated that over 700
tons of plant products are traded on the Witwatersrand annually. Obviously,
this places veritable threat to continued existence of ethno-botany. To
promote, preserve and propagate the dynamic relationship between modern western
medicine and ethno-botany, it is critically important that we must seek to
ensure mass participation in the efforts of this project. We need to ensure
that more and more of our traditional healers, the business sector and our
communities in general, are galvanised to support and participate in the
efforts of the project.

Visible and compelling reasons exist to elicit support for the project.
Ethno-botanic trade has a potential to generate income opportunities for
hundreds our people in harvesting and trading of plants both locally and to
other areas. The indigenous medicinal plant industry also has considerable
potential to make a significant positive impact on the economy, welfare and
biodiversity. The success of this project will easily mean that:

* consumers could have easier access to culturally acceptable and affordable
medicines that promotes their physical and spiritual well-being
* properly managed, local production can result in plants being traded at
cheaper prices, providing more access and greater welfare
* healers would have access to a regular supply of plants that are important
for treating some ailments, thereby promoting their businesses and
welfare
* healers would also be able to dispense adequate quantities of essential
medicines through access to greater volumes at cheaper prices
* a larger range of plants would be available for healers to dispense and for
consumers to purchase.

I think that you will agree with me that the attainment of these objectives
will also contribute to our collective quest for a better life. Allow me,
Programme Director, to conclude by commending and wish officials spearheading
this project more success. I also wish to acknowledge and thank all those who
took time to attend this launch.

I thank you.

Issued by: Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Environment, Gauteng
Provincial Government
20 April 2007