South Sudan’s General Farmers Union is urging the government to support production of Gum Arabic as an alternative source of income for the country.

The government should form the Board of Directors of the Agricultural Bank of South Sudan in order to help farmers produce more Gum Arabic, said the Chairperson of Finance Committee in the Union.

Local farmers harvest Gum Arabic commercially from wild trees in the northern states of South Sudan.

It is used in the manufacture of soft drinks, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.

Abdulla Deng Deng urged the government to find market for Gum Arabic products.

“So I want to say to the government to support Gum Arabic producers to enable them get a market,” said Mr Deng.

Due to lack of market, some of the products are allegedly smuggled out of the country.

Last week, the Chairperson of Farmers Union in Renk County of Upper Nile State, said a lot of Gum Arabic products in South Sudan have been smuggled into Sudan.

Mr. Abdulla Deng said there are no buyers and also there is no market for Gum Arabic products in South Sudan.