Devil's claw
Improved livelihoods and landscapes through responsible harvesting
Devil’s claw flower © Givaudan
Devil’s Claw, a medicinal plant native to the Kalahari desert, has long been harvested in Namibia for its benefits especially for human health. For rural families, especially in remote areas with few employment opportunities, collecting this wild plant provides essential cash income that helps pay for food, school fees, and medical care in the community.
Rooted in traditional knowledge
Wild harvest practices for Devil’s Claw are guided by indigenous knowledge, whereby harvesters will carefully dig around the plant, taking only the secondary tubers while leaving the “mother tuber” intact so it can regrow. This traditional method not only protects the plant for future harvest cycles but also preserves a cultural practice passed down for generations. As one harvester explained: “It is important to harvest properly so that the plant does not die. This allows us to harvest the same plant again in a few years.”
© Olga Ernst & Hp.Baumeler, Wiki commons
Livelihoods for families
Devil’s Claw is often the only source of income for months at a time. Women make up a large proportion of those collecting the plant from the wild, and the money they earn is usually invested directly back to support their families including children. For some women, this income supplements farming; for others, it can double or even triple what they usually earn in a season for farmed crops they sell. Studies show that women in particular gain greater decision-making power in their households through this work, using earnings to cover children’s education and household needs (source: MCC, see below).
Promoting good practices
To strengthen the sector, partners in Namibia have introduced the Good Agricultural and Collection Practices (GACP+) Guidelines. These build on traditional knowledge while adding modern tools to promote sustainable harvesting, fairer trade, and greater benefits for local communities. Four of the country’s largest exporters are already testing the guidelines in their supply chains, representing around 80% of exports.
Devil’s claw roots © Givaudan
To address the complexities of supply chain activities and monitoring, a public–private partnership has been established involving the Namibian Devil’s Claw Exporters Association Trust (NDCEAT), the German development agency GIZ, and other partners including UEBT members such as Givaudan under the framework of the BioInnovation Africa (BIA) programme. This collaboration is building pathways for a more sustainable, fair, and resilient Devil’s Claw sector.
A plant that represents resilience
Devil’s Claw is more than just a global herbal product. It represents resilience—of ecosystems sustained through careful harvesting, and of rural families who depend on it for their wellbeing.