Persistent Inequalities and Ecological Pressure: A Longitudinal Analysis of the Gnetum africanum (Eru) Value Chain in Cameroon

Abstract

Gnetum africanum (locally known as Eru in Cameroon) is a key non-timber forest product (NTFP) in Central Africa, playing an important role in rural livelihoods, household nutrition, and regional trade. This study conducts a comparative reassessment of the Eru value chain in the Mungo Division of Cameroon, building on a 2009 baseline to analyze changes in environmental, social, and economic dimensions over a 16-year period. Using a mixed-methods design, cross-sectional data were collected from 278 actors across the subdivisions of Bonalea, Dibombari, and Mbanga through structured questionnaires, focus group discussions, and key informant interviews. The results point to persistent and marked economic inequalities along the chain. Harvesters remain the most disadvantaged group, earning an estimated US$864 – US$1,296 annually, with average profit margins of about US$1.60 per kilogramme. In contrast, traders capture a larger share of the value, with annual incomes ranging from US$1,923.5 to US$2,350.9 and margins of approximately US$2.67 per kilogramme. From an environmental perspective, production continues to rely overwhelmingly on wild harvesting. Although domestication has increased slightly, from 5% in 2009 to 12% in 2025, destructive practices such as vine uprooting are still widespread, posing a serious threat to resource regeneration. Social analysis reveals a strongly gendered value chain. Women dominate both harvesting (72%) and trading (over 90%), yet they remain constrained by limited bargaining power, weak collective organization, and generally low levels of formal education. Overall, when compared with the 2009 baseline, the Eru value chain shows signs of intensified commercialization alongside growing socio-ecological stress. The study concludes that without targeted and coordinated interventions, particularly to promote domestication, strengthen trade formalization, and empower producer groups led by women, the long-term sustainability of this important NTFP remains uncertain.