The African Traditional food plant, Shea Tree. " tááŋ̀à "

Vitellaria paradoxa (formerly Butyrospermum parkii), commonly known as shea tree, shi tree, or vitellaria, is a tree of the Sapotaceae family. It is the only species in genus Vitellaria, and is indigenous to Africa. The shea fruit consists of a thin, tart, nutritious pulp that surrounds a relatively large, oil-rich seed from which shea butter is extracted. The shea tree is a traditional African food plant. It has been claimed to have potential to improve nutrition, boost food supply in the "annual hungry season", foster rural development, and support sustainable landcare.

The tree starts bearing its first fruit when it is 10 to 15 years old; full production is attained when the tree is about 20 to 30 years old. It then produces nuts for up to 200 years. The fruits resemble large plums and take 4 to 6 months to ripen. The average yield is 15 to 20 kilograms of fresh fruit per tree, with optimum yields up to 45 kilograms. Each kilogram of fruit gives approximately 400 grams of dry seeds.

The shea tree grows naturally in the wild in the dry savannah belt of West Africa from Senegal in the west to Sudan in the east, and onto the foothills of the Ethiopian highlands. It occurs in 19 countries across the African continent, namely Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Ivory Coast, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Sudan, Togo, Uganda, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Guinea

The common name is shíyiri or shísu (lit. "shea tree") in the Bambara language of Mali. This is the origin of the English word, and is pronounced "shee" to rhyme with "tea." The tree is called ghariti in the Wolof language of Senegal, which is the origin of the French name of the tree and the butter, karité. In Hausa language the tree is called Kade or Kadanya. Indeed, the shea tree is so indispensable in Mole-Dagbang culinary and ethno-botanical practices that the Northern Ghanaian city of Tamale etymologically derives its name from the more traditional Dagomba name 'Tama-yile' (meaning 'Home of Shea nuts')

According to the Shea Network Ghana report in 2014, " The shea sub sector in Ghana is defined in this study to encompass all shea nut, shea butter and shea based products as well as all the actors, stakeholders and activities ranging from production/protection through primary processing, nut and butter trading, processing, nut and butter bulking, village level processing and industrial level processing as well as export of nuts and butter. Shea nuts are collected and processed into oils and butter for various end uses such as food and confectionaries, cosmetics, soap and detergents, and pharmaceutics. Processing is usually done manually through traditional methods but also mechanically using semi/fully mechanized industrial systems. Manual production, done mainly by women, is usually organized through groups and cooperatives. Manual extractive processes are labour intensive and inefficient as far as the usage of water, energy and time is concerned. A cooperative group of 33 women processes an average of 0.5 mt of shea butter in a week. Presently, many women cooperatives have turned to the use of equipment such as grinding and milling machines to reduce physical exhaustion".

SHEA DISTRIBUTION IN GHANA In a study by the Shea network Ghana indicates that," In Ghana, it occurs extensively in the Guinea Savannah and less abundantly in the Sudan Savannah. The shea tree occurs over almost the entire area of Northern Ghana, covering about 77,670 square kilometers. There is sparse shea tree cover found in Brong-Ahafo, Ashanti, and the Eastern and Volta Regions in the south of the country. Till date, shea trees are normally found in the wild and accessible to the public. This exposes them to the ravages of annual bush-fires that usually burn the undergrowth and cause stunted growth. Even though the tree is drought and fire resistant, evidence exists to suggest that reduced burning could lead to tremendous improvements in nut yield. Under protected conditions (e.g. on cultivated lands and on the fringes of settlements) the trees can reach heights of about 15 meters and thicknesses of 175cm".

POTENTIALS IN THE SECTOR The SNG has also reported that, " There is a large domestic consumption of shea (Lovett, Addaquaye, 2006) as food, cosmetics, medicine and on special occasions. Even though local consumption is estimated at about 55% of the shea collected annually, the domestic market is considered as poorly developed. Experts have suggested that; addressing improving the quality of butter (especially the smell through refining and deodorizing), national level promotion of shea and improvement in the quality of shea based products (such as cooking oils, soaps and creams) are key to increasing domestic use of shea based products. Shea is regarded as the cocoa of the North and is of geo-political, cultural and economic importance to the three Northern Regions. In addition, interest in shea is justified by the following reasons"

Shea Network Ghana research and study clearly shows that, " Ghana has a competitive advantage Ghana has the best quality of shea nuts worldwide and reflected in steady increase in premium price for Ghanaian shea on the international market ($220/MT on the average in 2000 evidence by LodersCroklaan at Juaben, 2006). Ghana is the second largest producer after Mali, producing an estimated 130,000 MT of nuts/annum (Peter Lovett, Nov 2004) worth US$27 million (Peter Jaeger, 1999) and 5,000 MT of shea butter valued at 6 million USD annually. Ghana’s Tema Port is centrally located in the sub-region with sea and road linkages to the shea producing countries. As an industrial city, Tema has the infrastructure e.g. a port facility for export needs, reliable electricity, water, technical labour. The presence of a large number of unorganized groups offers great opportunity to develop intervention to the benefits of these groups"

Shea as an important crop in northern Ghana As of 2014, the SNG findings and research indicates that, " Shea has large rural poor impact. Shea is prevalent in the three Northern Regions where rural poverty is highest in Ghana. It also offers off season incomes to women in the three regions. This is in addition to a large number of men who are active in the shea market as middlemen and traders. Peter Jaeger (1999) estimates that about 3,000 households, benefit from the shea industry in the Northern Regions (TNS, 2004). Shea is important across the West Africa sub-region and will enhance cross border collaboration, regional cooperation and integration Increasing International Market Demand: Shea is gaining importance on the international market, especially for use in confectionery, medical and cosmetic industries. Approximately 150,000 MT valued at $30million at approximately $200/mt. Nut exports are growing at approximately 15% per annum"

SNG also believe that there are Opportunities for Local Value Addition. According to SNG report " There are great opportunities to increase the quantity, quality and value of butter exported as well as shea based products on the domestic market. There are new technologies in the drying, extraction and processing of nuts"

SHEA SUB SECTOR OPPORTUNITIES In a report by SNG, states that " The following industry level constraints and opportunities have been identified in the Ghanaian shea sub sector; Demand Side Opportunities There is large un-met export demand for shea based products. There are increasingly favourable regulations for use of shea butter in the EU. Increasing demand for butter in US, Canada and possibly China. Large un-met domestic demand by in-country nut crushers. Willingness of Processing and Export Companies to develop supply chain relationships with collectors. Opportunity to develop domestic market to increase demand through industry promotion and new product development. Growing in-country processing capacity".

The SNG report further states that "Supply Side Opportunities Potential to expand production/collection: It is estimated that only 40% of the existing potential of shea is collected in Ghana. The remaining 60% of uncollected seeds offer opportunities for business expansion and development. Possibility to form national and local shea associations. Possibility to exploit ICT to improve market/business information availability e.g MISTOWA High nut quality in Ghana has potential to make Ghana a preferred nut supplier. Potential to improve nut quality and butter extraction rates including increasing emergence of technology for drying and processing. Increasing interest of support organisations and programmes in shea: For example; Private sector investment funds – BUSAC, Export Development and Agricultural Investment Fund (EDAIF), Common Fund for Development (CFD) etc. National/international public sector organizations and NGOs: SNV, MISTOWA (Management Information Systems and Trade Organisations in West Africa), GEF (Small Grants Scheme), TNS, OXFAM and JICA"

Findings and Research by the SNG also states that " SHEA SUB SECTOR CONSTRAINTS Poor/lack of conservation practice: bushfires, cutting for fuel wood and reduced protection of trees Organizational constraints for collectors: many widely scattered, weak, unorganized with poor enterprise skills resulting in end actors Limited access to capital for women (collectors, small traders, processors) Lack of farm-to-home carriage, Lack of policy support and regulatory framework for the shea industry as compared to cocoa and similar crops. Poor enterprise management skills both financial and stock records. Poor logistics such as warehousing, transportation and communication infrastructure contribute to high (transaction) cost, low margins for upstream actors Inefficient village processing technology (20 – 30%) and low industrial capacity utilization (approximately 30%). Low domestic commercial demand for shea butter. Poor infrastructure support for industrial processors: Long supply channels, low margins for collectors: many non-value adding actors/traders, adding costs"

SNG thus the Shea Network Ghana Mission is " To engender a common national Shea agenda, facilitate and co-ordinate the efforts of all stakeholders in promoting Shea for equal benefits of actors in the sector. Objectives of the Shea Network A platform for knowledge and experience sharing on the industry To provide equitable space for coordinated engagement by all in the Shea Sector. To contribute to shaping and sustaining a supportive policy and business environment in the Shea Sector especially addressing the concerns of large buyers and shea traders To be an institutionalized platform to support the development of the Shea industry. To address the capacity development gaps among members, especially producer organizations and the base of the pyramid To work towards creating market access for pickers and producers and sustainable supply chain To promote domestic use/consumption of shea products whiles encouraging value additions To establish a shea hub in Ghana. To raise needed funding to support facilitating organizations Create opportunities for experts in the industry Promote share ecotourism Champion the cause of funding shea research Protect shea trees and parklands"

SNG has also stated that " SNG mechanism to co-ordinate the industry is the institutionalization of the Annual Shea Multi Stakeholder forum (MSHF). The forum is held for 2-3 days and features excellent presentations and knowledge sharing by renowned experts from the industry. It is a platform for Business to Business sessions and market linkage of actors and stakeholders. The forum is also used as a plat form for a shea fair and exhibitions where shea based products are exhibited. SNG also holds it General Assembly meeting during this period to receive status report from the secretariat, elect it board members, amend constitution and take any other decision that is needed by its General Assembly, the highest decision making body of Shea Network Ghana. The General Assembly is represented by the Board whose composition is the individual representation from the value chain led by a Chairman and Vice Chairperson".

Shea Network Ghana has also Advocate for the action on amendment of act 571, stating that " ACT 571 establishes the Forestry Commission (FC) of Ghana as a corporate body and mandates the commission to regulate the utilization of forest and timber resources, to manage forest reserves and protected areas, to assist the private sector to implement the Forest and Wildlife Policy and to undertake the development of plantations"

" Advocacy Action on the Promulgation of District Level Bye-laws for Shea Conservation and Protection The absence of laws and regulations to protect shea trees is one key factor that accounts for the open destruction of the trees for fuel wood, charcoal production, bush burning and establishment of cash and tree crops plantations".says SNG.

Shea Network Ghana has also campaign for Quality shea. In the SNG report " The project aims at improving the industry quality of nuts in Ghana. In partnership with local NGOS SNG has been doing the campaign for the past two years and has reached about 17, 200 rural nuts collectors with funding from the GSA/ICCO Co-operation".

Sources:.. Shea Network Ghana, BBC, Wikipedia, Google..