Eru, a vegetable found in the forest, plays an important role in trade
between countries in West and Central Africa, especially between
Cameroon and Nigeria. This note analyses the environment for trade in Eru
as an example of a high value non-wood forest product (NWFP) that has a
great potential both in terms of exports but also for income generating
activities. Women are heavily involved in Eru trade as both harvesters and
small-scale traders. It is a key means for many women to diversify the
income stream of their household and reduce their financial dependence on
men. Hence, it is of particular importance to analyze the Eru value chain
from a gender perspective. The note discusses how women face substantial
constraints relative to men in developing their Eru business, which limits
their value-added and the contribution of their work to their household‘s
income.
The note also discusses a key challenge facing countries in the region
notably, how to support trade in Eru with its potential for poverty reduction,
while also ensuring its sustainable cultivation. Current destructive harvesting
techniques, extraction rates in excess of what can naturally be replenished,
the rapid decline of the natural habitat of the plant and the lack of effective
management of forests, and of Eru itself, compromise the long-term
sustainability of this important natural resource. Gender imbalances in
access to training and finance, and ownership of land undermine effective
responses to this problem.