HARVEST

The harvest

The harvest of Gum Arabic is 100% natural.

From January to April and May to October, depending on climatic conditions, the harvest takes place in several steps:
First an incision is made on the tree, which is called tapping. This operation does not damage the tree, and will induce a complex process in it, so that the acacia tree will exudate gum in order to cover the incision. The gum is exuded through the incision, and starts to dry when in contact with the air and sunlight. It progressively becomes a nodule.
Several weeks after the tapping, collectors come back and cut the gum nodule
from the tree with a blade. The nodules are then bulked, dried, sorted and stored,
before being sent to the Acacia EPZ primary value addition centers for pre-
processing before onward transport to the company HQ inside the Export Processing Zones in Athi-River.
Harvesting techniques come from longstanding traditional practices that collectors in the Arid lands have been developing for decades. The company and KEFRI also organises regular workshops on proper tapping, harvesting and tree management techniques. No chemicals are involved in the harvesting process, which is carried out completely by hand and/or harvesting tools.

GET IN TOUCH

Export Processing Zones Authority, Viwanda Road Off Nairobi-Namanga Highway, AthiRiver, Kenya.
+254 794 711190
info@acacia-epz.com

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