BAOBAB SOCIAL & ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
SUSTAINABLE INCOMES FOR RURAL COMMUNITIES
B’Ayoba Pvt Ltd sources their Baobab fruit from Zimbabwe, where a 2015 resource assessment of Baobab tree populations concluded that the country alone could sustainably supply up to seven times the current level of demand. The fruit is harvested by over 4,500 trained and registered smallholder farmers based throughout rural Zimbabwe. The fruit pods are collected from rural areas and transported to B’Ayoba's facilities where they are opened, the dry fruit pulp is mechanically separated from the seeds and then processed into an ultra-fine high-quality powder. The powder is sampled by batch and packed into 20 kg food-grade bags. The samples are then sent to accredited laboratories for testing against industry standard specifications. Every bag can be traced back to the specific group of harvesters it came from. Any batches that do not comply to specifications are immediately quarantined and investigated using B’Ayoba’s tracking and batch control protocols. Product that successfully passes quality control is then approved for export to Shining Seas Ingredients.
FAIR PRICING & ORGANIC CERTIFICATION
B’Ayoba work every year with global organic control body Ecocert to organically certify their collection areas in Zimbabwe. Because organic certification requires adherence to strict criteria, B’Ayoba organises annual trainings and workshops for their registered harvesters. The organic certification does not refer specifically to the Baobab trees themselves, but rather to the land on which the trees grow on. This means that once that land is certified, other products such as vegetables or other wild fruit can be grown separately and sold by local communities as organic produce.
The harvesters have formed cooperatives which allow them better negotiating positions for the prices of their products. They are guaranteed a minimum price by B’Ayoba as a safety net to shield them from any downward fluctuations in overseas market prices. The cooperatives also receive additional premium funds which they can use for community investments such as kindergartens, community halls and medical centers.
SUPPLEMENTAL INCOME FOR WOMEN
B’Ayoba’s 4500 registered harvesters are comprised mainly of women. This is because in rural Zimbabwe, it is common for the men to find work outside the regions, while the women maintain the household. As a result, it is mainly women and the families they support who directly benefit from the additional income that the Baobab harvest brings each year, helping them with important expenses such as school fees, transport, food, fuel and household items.
This seasonal income is especially crucial in areas where household food production can be especially challenging. The Baobab tree grows in dry regions of Zimbabwe where the meagre soils are particularly at risk of drought. And if crops fail, these communities do not have many other opportunities to generate income. This makes the trade in Baobab Fruit especially handy. Unlike standard agricultural products which require a lot of inputs such as water and nutrients, the Baobab tree is particularly hardy and able to survive completely naturally in the harshest of conditions. Also harvesting Baobab fruit requires no additional investment or technical equipment on the part of the harvesters. Only their time and manual efforts are needed to generate this additional income.
