The 'Desert Gold', Gum arabic - Acacia species

The plant,Gum arabic,seems to be the most economic tree crop ever discovered in Sahara and Sub-Sahara regions.It is used since time immemorial in all human endeavour, hence its demand worldwide is ever increasing, especially in the manufacturing sectors.Nigeria has three geographical zones with the northern part characterised as Sub - Sahara zone which happened to be favourable for the growth and performance of the crop - gum arabic. There are about 14 States in northern Nigeria that produce and market gum arabic. Borno, Yobe and Jigawa States happened to be the major producing areas in the country. The yield between the years 2000 and 2008 recorded a total of 154,870 metric tonnes. The major marketing centers in the country are Kano, Maiduguri and Lagos.This book looked at the market structure, conduct and performance of gum arabic in Borno State, north - east Nigeria, in order to establish the economic impact and potentials of gum arabic marketing on the respondents, with the view to determine problems facing the marketers in the country especially at the international market and suggest possible solutions.