Timber and sesame | Tanmondial

Timber

Sustainable forest management implies the utilization of forest resources for the benefit of local communities and the state as it has huge potential for creating employment, income and wealth. However, with the threat of depleting forest reserves our need to utilize the forest resources in a pragmatic manner is vital to our survival. Forest development has therefore been introduced in several countries of West Africa, thereby significantly contributed to establishing socio-economic infrastructure as well as employment. The countries of Gabon, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Nigeria and Ghana in West Africa have identified timber industry as a major forest development sector. A total of 83% of log production is from this region alone and is strongly export oriented. Ivory Coast has been and continues to be by far Africa’s most important exporter of tropical timber.

At TANMONDIAL, we act responsibly by only sourcing government approved logging contracts and therefore harvest only “ Plantation Teak” and Gmelina species. We are in control of the entire chain of custody for timber, which means that traceability of logs can be ensured. Where processing is carried out before export, this is limited to rough sawing and sawn timber. This process is in compliance with the international market requirements and quality standards applicable to value-added products. We work with authorities to promote reforestation of secondary forests, improved development of plantation timber as well as plantation of trees in already existing forest. In many rainforests throughout the world and very much so in West Africa – preserving remaining undistributed forests has to be the leitmotif of every planning concept and we at TANMONDIAL do our share to conserve these vital forest resources.

Sesame

Sesame, an ancient oilseed of Iraq, it is one of the oldest cultivated plants in the world. Some historians however, state that it might have originated in the African continent as a wild cultivation. Through the ages, sesame seeds have been a source of food and oil. It is considered to have both nutritional and medicinal value. Whether hulled or de-hulled, roasted or raw, the seeds are now widely used in baking, candy making and other food products. About 65 percent of the annual sesame crop is processed into oil and 35 percent is used in food.

Called “Benniseed” in West Africa, this warm season annual crop is primarily adapted to the well-drained arid soils of the Sahelian regions of Burkina-Faso, Mali, Nigeria, Togo and Niger where we operate. TANMONDIAL has an extensive primary procurement network of direct buying from farmers and suppliers in these regions. Primarily because Quality perception, particularly how the seed looks is a major pricing factor of this commodities. In order to command premium grade prices and enhance our market share we ensure complete control of quality at the point of purchase. The seeds are then properly cleaned, washed, dried, colour-sorted, size-graded. These stringent quality control measures are necessary for ensuring impurity-free seeds with minimum oil content of no less than 40 percent. Quality sesame seeds and their oil are highly prized items. The prevalence of sesame seed oil in Asian cuisines points to the rising demand. The world traded over a billion dollar worth of sesame seeds and many market observers attribute the rise to China’s growing imports. As the global demand for sesame continues to grow every year throughout our client markets of Japan, China and Turkey this commodity will continue to add value to our product
portfolio.