By Frederick Philander KEETMANSHOOP Namibia stands to earn millions of dollars due to the rising demand for the indigenous Hoodia plant as a potential miracle cure for obesity, which is a global problem particularly in the industrialized countries in the Western Hemisphere. This became clear yesterday morning during a speech in which Namibians were passionately called upon to develop a sustainable Hoodia industry by the minister of Environment and Tourism, Willem Konjore. More than 200 commercial and communal farmers, traditional and church leaders and senior government officials are attending a two-day workshop to start a formal Hoodia plant industry that ends today. “It is important to recognize that bio-trade has the potential of generating significant economic benefits to Namibia if properly controlled and could become an important potential component of an integrated sustainable development strategy. On the other hand, the country can lose its share of the potential millions of dollars in revenue from renewable plants exploited by international pharmaceutical, medical and agro-chemical interests,” Konjore said. In his view, rural communities, individuals and institutions stand to lose considerably as a result of the uncontrolled exploitation of intellectual property rights and products related to such resources. “That is why my ministry is engaged in a process of drafting legislation for access to genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge to provide a legal framework under which bio-trade and bio-prospecting can occur. “This framework should provide a level playing field, encourage research and promote investment in natural product research and development,” he asserted. The minister urged that an innovative strategy be put in place to protect Hoodia and other plants as they become important for pharmaceutical and other sectors. “Hoodia is a rare plant only found in Namibia, South Africa and, to a limited extent, in Botswana. We in the southern part of Namibia have known for generations that the Hoodia Gordini has medicinal and appetite suppressant substances and have used it sustainably over the centuries. “This knowledge has now been passed on to pharmaceutical companies in the western world which view it as a potential miracle cure for obesity, with potential negative consequences for the survival of the species in its natural range,” the minister warned. Populations of this natural resource are being negatively impacted by the high international demand. “There have already been numerous incidents of illegal harvesting and attempts to illegally export large amounts of Hoodia materials from Namibia. Unscrupulous buyers continue to exploit the local people by unfairly offering low prices which, in the absence of other options, appear highly attractive. The result is encouragement for them to harvest indiscriminately and without regard for the sustainability or survival of the populations,” Konjore asserted. Because of the enormity of the international market demands, Hoodia has the potential of contributing to Namibia’s economic development in general and rural development in particular. “Hoodia can positively contribute to the livelihood of rural households through cultivation and marketing of the plant. It is also very important that the process of deriving benefits from Hoodia remains sustainable. As co-owners and custodians of this valuable national heritage, we must ensure that this plant is not lost to our children and grandchildren,”the minister said.