Contribution of some tree fruits to rural development in Sudan

Trade of non timber forest products (NTFPs) for income generation is not new, some products (e.g. rattan, shea butter, rubber, gum Arabic, etc...), have been traded for centuries. The expansion of NTFPs market reflects a growing recognition of the contribution made by many NTFPs to rural economies. However, recent reviews suggest that studies on NTFPs may have been unduly optimistic about the potential contribution NTFPs make to poverty alleviation. Given that NTFPs are highly diverse in terms of their ecological and socioeconomic characteristics, there is a need to define which NTFPs have particular potential for poverty alleviation, and identify the conditions under which their use and sale is likely to make positive contribution to rural development.