Aloe Vera In Kenya

Well here is a bit of good news for East Africa. Aloe Vera to be grown there.
I am not sure what Aloe Gum is...any body know?

Kenya: Farmers Form Group to Market Beauty Crop


Email This Page Print This Page
The Nation (Nairobi)
February 5, 2007Posted to the web February 5, 2007
Nation CorrespondentNairobi
More than 7,000 acres of aloe vera crop have been planted in the semi-arid area of Kieni Division of Nyeri District in the last two years.
Farmers in the region have formed an association that hopes to market the product once Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) issues them with an export licence.
");
//-->

"We have fulfilled nearly all the conditions set by KWS and hope to start exporting aloe products by mid this year," the patron of Kieni Aloe Plantations Conservation, Mr Nemesyus Warugongo, said at the weekend.
He said they had established a factory where aloe vera products will be processed for export.
Soaps and cosmetics
Beauty products like shampoos, soaps and cosmetics will be processed there.
Mr Warugongo, who was addressing more than 200 farmers at Mweiga Stadium, said they are required to plant some 5,000 acres of the crop before they can be issued with an export licence.
The farmers field day was organised by the local agriculture office.
Relevant Links
East Africa Kenya
Mr Warugongo said they had already obtained an order for 12 tonnes of aloe gum in Germany, but could not export without a permit.
"We have submitted samples to Kenya Bureau of Standards so that we can be allowed to take our products to local markets," said the group's patron.
The various species of aloe vera are famed for their medicinal value and have been used traditionally to cure various ailments.