A regional workshop on the role of herbs, medicinal and aromatic plants in improving the livelihood of poor rural people in the Near East and North Africa will be held in Aleppo, Syria, from 10-12 July 2007. The workshop is organized by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) in collaboration with the International Centre for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA). The participants include some 40 experts and representatives of regional and international research and financial institutions.

“Supporting small farmers to grow and market non-traditional agricultural commodities, like medicinal plants and herbs, has a very positive impact on agricultural growth, rural employment and leads to poverty reduction in rural areas,” said Mona Bishay, the Director of IFAD’s Near East and North Africa Division. “But for this to happen, collectors and growers must have greater access to local and international markets.”

More than 80 per cent of the world’s population use traditional plant-based medicine for primary health care, according to the World Health Organization. And demand is growing world-wide for medicinal plants, as well as herbs and aromatic plants. Global trade in these plants is estimated at US$60 billion annually and is expected to grow by 10 to 15 per cent per year.

Taking advantage of this window of opportunity will help reduce reducing rural poverty in the Near East and North Africa region because of its immense wealth of plant biodiversity. The regional flora includes more than 23,000 plant species. Among these species, the region is known for its production of a wide variety of, for example, Acaccia, Allium and Rumex to cure diabetes, Dyrophytum, Peganum and Veronia for asthmatic illnesses, Aloe, Tamarindus and Ziziphus for bone fractures, Thymus Vulgaris for insect bites, and so forth. The region is also home to a large number of other herbal species including cumin, coriander, fennel, thyme, matricaria, calendula, valerian, oregano, mint,  sage, aloe vera and frankincense as well as essentatial oils extracted from citrus, peppermints, spearmints, lemongrass, eucalyptus, citronella and geranium.

Improved management of this natural resource can make a bigger contribution to local economies, subsistence health needs and biodiversity conservation.  But, in spite of its huge export potential, the region enjoys a very small share of the world’s market of herbs, medicinal and aromatic plants. It was estimated at only 3% in the period 1991-2000.

Yet, herbs, medicinal and aromatic plants continues to provide essential food and nutrition, medicine, fodder, mulch, fuel and construction materials for generating non-farm income. These products also provide relief during “hunger periods” in the agricultural cycle. They have a high value-added potential for poor collectors and growers, especially women, because they can be easily graded, purified, processed and stored.

Herbs, medicinal and aromatic plants are particularly promising for reducing rural poverty in the NENA region because of their higher water use efficiency and relatively higher economic return per unit area compared to traditional crops. In addition, massive cultivation of these plants can fortify anti-desertification measures, securing greater carbon dioxide absorption, and contributing to climate change mitigation.

The Aleppo Workshop aims to:

• identify and discuss constraints and opportunities for sustainable collection and cultivation of herbs, medicinal and aromatic plants and for linking and integrating small collectors and growers to domestic and international markets;

• examine success stories and lessons learned in the production and marketing of herbs, medicinal and aromatic plants and derived products;

• identify strategic approaches, priority interventions and partnerships necessary for taking full advantage of herbs, medicinal and aromatic plants in improving the livelihoods of the rural poor in the Near East and North Africa region.