Shea nut yields decline in Northern Region due to bush fire

Shea nut yields in the Northern Region are falling due to indiscriminate bush burning.

Shea nut pickers and buyers in the region have complained of a drop in annual targets and there are fears that the livelihood of thousands of women who depend on shea nut picking is

under threat.

The price of a bag of shea nut has risen to over hundred Ghana cedis but women in the Gushegu Municipality in the NorthernRegion say they no more get enough nuts to pick.

The President of the Yumyataba Shea Nut Processors Association, Memunatu Yakubu disclosed that the average number of bags picked per woman has dropped from fifteen bags to about five bags per annum.

The group says the decrease in yields is a consequence of bushfires which are rampant across the three regions of the north especially during the harmattan season.

The coordinator of the group, Paul Tia said the shea tree has suffered from bushfires, cutting for charcoal and other domestic uses.

The association has organized a series of forums to educate community members against bush burning.

He revealed that the Business Sector Advocacy Challenge Fund (BUSAC Fund) has therefore supported the Yumyataba Shea Nut Processors Association in the Municipality to sensitize community members to stop bush burning.

Mr. Tia commended BUSAC Fund for the financial support and thanked traditional authorities as well as the Municipal Assembly for supporting the group to realize its objectives.