POTENTIAL STIMULATION OF LOCAL RURAL ECONOMIES BY HARVESTING SECONDARY PRODUCTS - A CASE-STUDY OF THE CENTRAL TRANSVAAL LOWVELD, SOUTH-AFRICA

A case study is presented, determining the cash value of secondary pro ducts and their potential to provide a foundation for stimulation of u nderdeveloped rural economies. Secondary products are natural indigeno us resources available from a given piece of land co-incidental to the primary management objective. The cash value of four selected seconda ry products are considered (marula fruits, fuelwood, thatch grass, car ving timber) for the study area. The results suggest that there is con siderable value locked up in secondary products. Local communities and entrepreneurs do harvest a small proportion of the secondary products for local consumption and commercial gain, respectively, but vast qua ntities of secondary products remain unavailable due to protectionist land-use policies. Adjustment of these policies, and development of lo cal processing centers for the raw materials can provide the basis for significant employment opportunities and stimulation of the local rur al economy. It appears that ecological impacts of harvesting on a larg er scale would be limited, but this requires attention.