AIC Twinning Project

Background
  Goals
  Updates and Reports
  GSAP
  Further Information

Shea nuts on a tree

Gathering of the nuts under shea trees

Transport of the shea nuts to processing centre

Use of cattle to remove undergrowth under shea nuts

Drying of shea nuts in the sun after par-boiling before being proceeed into shea nut butter

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Agricultural Institute of Canada International Twinning Partnership program

Canadian Society of Animal Science-Ghana Society of Animal Production* Partnership Project on Integrated Crop and Livestock Production in Northern Ghana

Project Background Information
The broad objective of this project is to increase household income in rural communities in Northern Ghana through integration of sheanuts and livestock production. The proposed activities are in line with CIDA's Social Development Priorities, and are designed to complement Ghana's strive towards household food security and improved living standards in Northern rural communities through sustainable agricultural practices. Poverty is particularly pervasive in the northern sector of the country, where hunger and malnutrition constitute serious health problems for most people despite the fact that most of the agricultural production is undertaken in that region. About 90% of the population in Northern Ghana is engaged in Agriculture and its related activities. However, the agricultural environment is very restrictive and dependent on sporadic and limited rainfalls, and has been subjected to extensive soil degradation and deforestation. Gender inequalities prevail and women have limited access to resources and difficulty in generating income. Although the strategies to alleviate poverty being proposed in this project will of necessity address some of its interrelated causes, they are geared primarily towards income generating activities for women, who are the poorest among the poor in the region.

The natural vegetation in Northern Ghana is characterised by short grasses interspersed with low-density woodland of drought and fire-resistant species. The shea tree, commonly referred to as the "woman's tree" is one of the dominant trees in this vegetation zone. The nuts fall from the trees when they are ripe, and are collected by women and children. They can be sold "as is", but most women prefer to process the nuts for oil, thereby adding value to the product. The oil is called shea butter, and is one of the major sources of oil for cooking and contributes a significant amount of energy to the diet of Ghanaians. It is also used as an unguent or exported to be used in the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. The value of this crop and it potential to improve wealth is tremendous and is receiving greater attention in the country.

The native grasses and shrubs in the northern vegetation zone grow rapidly during the rainy season and dry up quickly when the rains stop. The dry vegetation then serves as a readily available source of fuel for bush fires, which are rampant in this vegetation zone. The bush fires retard the growth of young shea trees, reduce the yield of mature trees and destroy unpicked nuts. However, these fires do clean up the undergrowth and facilitates the easy collection of the nuts that fall after the fires have swept through the undergrowth.

Collection and processing of shea nuts is one of the major economic activities that are exclusive to women in these communities and is the reason the tree is referred to as a woman's tree. One major activity of this project is to use cattle under a controlled grazing program to mimic the effects of bush fires (i.e. cleaning of the undergrowth) and to supply manure to increase the yield of nuts. Reducing biomass under the trees will safeguard the nuts from bush fires and also make them more visible. Furthermore, reducing the undergrowth will not only make this habitat less attractive to snakes, but will also make snakes more visible. Both outcomes will decrease the incidence of lethal snake bites suffered by the women and children who collect the nuts.

The partnership has the potential to put in place effective programs that will support sustainable development of the agricultural resources in northern Ghana while protecting the environment. An added benefit of the partnership will be in human capacity-building in farming systems research to enable the Ghanaian institutions to contribute more fully to their national economy, by taking advantage of Canadian partner institution's internationally recognized strengths in research, and academic and outreach programs in natural resource management and animal agriculture.

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The specific goals (and objectives) of the project are:

Goal 1: To develop and transfer appropriate technology to increase productivity of shea nuts and shea butter, and to improve the welfare of women and children in northern Ghana.

Specific objectives:

To develop environmentally sustainable methods of reducing biomass under sheanut trees.

To reduce the time and effort that women and children spend collecting sheanuts.

To laissez with a local NGO to improve the processing of sheanuts.

To improve the nutritional quality of forage available to livestock grazing natural grasslands.

To develop and transfer appropriate technology to ensure availability of feed for livestock throughout the year.

To develop community feeding stations for livestock.

Goal 2: To strengthen the Ghana Society of Animal Production and farmer organizations.

Specific objectives:

To train farmers and community association committee members in relevant areas of organization and management.

To assist GSAP and other stakeholders to organize workshops and on-farm demonstrations on sustainable livestock production systems.

To assist GSAP to strengthen community and farmer associations so that they can participate effectively in decision-making processes that affect their welfare.

To establish suitable linkages with national and international organizations and associations.

To strengthen the institutional capacity of GSAP to make it more effective at influencing research, training and institutional policies in animal production.

Updates and Reports
CSAS-GSAP Program Update September 2007
News Release - Micro-Credit News 2007
Ghana Partnership Mid-Year Report
CSAS-GSAP_Project Update (Year1)

*Brief Profile of Ghanaian Partner Institution
GSAP is a professional body for animal scientists and others associated with the livestock industry in Ghana. The society has a membership of 210 scientists and professionals who are active in academia (universities and research institutes), policy development, production, processing and marketing. The broad aims of the society include:

Facilitating the acquisition and dissemination of scientific and technical knowledge in animal production.

Establishing communication links between members in research, extension, education and production.

Facilitating and influencing research, training, and national policy on animal production.

Since its inception in 1987, GSAP has been at the forefront of the battle against malnutrition in Ghana and has always sought ways to highlight pertinent problems in the animal production industry through farmers' fora. The society holds a Scientific Conference and General Meeting annually at which advances and setbacks in the domestic livestock industry and possible solutions are reviewed. Resolutions adopted at these conferences are submitted to the national Government for consideration and implementation.

For further information on the project please contact either:

Canadian Society of Animal Science
Dr. John Baah
Research Scientist
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Research Centre
P.O. Box 3000
Lethbridge, Alberta T1J 4B1
Telephone: (403) 317-3340
Facsimile: (403) 382-3156
Email:baahj@agr.gc.ca

Ghana Society of Animal Production
Dr. K. Oppong Anane
OARDC,
P.O.Box CT 1738
Cantonments
Accra, Ghana
Telephone: +233-20-815-8267 and +233-28-507-6015
Email: koanane2000@yahoo.com

Back to Top

Project Background Information
The broad objective of this project is to increase household income in rural communities in Northern Ghana through integration of sheanuts and livestock production. The proposed activities are in line with CIDA's Social Development Priorities, and are designed to complement Ghana's strive towards household food security and improved living standards in Northern rural communities through sustainable agricultural practices. Poverty is particularly pervasive in the northern sector of the country, where hunger and malnutrition constitute serious health problems for most people despite the fact that most of the agricultural production is undertaken in that region. About 90% of the population in Northern Ghana is engaged in Agriculture and its related activities. However, the agricultural environment is very restrictive and dependent on sporadic and limited rainfalls, and has been subjected to extensive soil degradation and deforestation. Gender inequalities prevail and women have limited access to resources and difficulty in generating income. Although the strategies to alleviate poverty being proposed in this project will of necessity address some of its interrelated causes, they are geared primarily towards income generating activities for women, who are the poorest among the poor in the region.

The natural vegetation in Northern Ghana is characterised by short grasses interspersed with low-density woodland of drought and fire-resistant species. The shea tree, commonly referred to as the "woman's tree" is one of the dominant trees in this vegetation zone. The nuts fall from the trees when they are ripe, and are collected by women and children. They can be sold "as is", but most women prefer to process the nuts for oil, thereby adding value to the product. The oil is called shea butter, and is one of the major sources of oil for cooking and contributes a significant amount of energy to the diet of Ghanaians. It is also used as an unguent or exported to be used in the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. The value of this crop and it potential to improve wealth is tremendous and is receiving greater attention in the country.

The native grasses and shrubs in the northern vegetation zone grow rapidly during the rainy season and dry up quickly when the rains stop. The dry vegetation then serves as a readily available source of fuel for bush fires, which are rampant in this vegetation zone. The bush fires retard the growth of young shea trees, reduce the yield of mature trees and destroy unpicked nuts. However, these fires do clean up the undergrowth and facilitates the easy collection of the nuts that fall after the fires have swept through the undergrowth.

Collection and processing of shea nuts is one of the major economic activities that are exclusive to women in these communities and is the reason the tree is referred to as a woman's tree. One major activity of this project is to use cattle under a controlled grazing program to mimic the effects of bush fires (i.e. cleaning of the undergrowth) and to supply manure to increase the yield of nuts. Reducing biomass under the trees will safeguard the nuts from bush fires and also make them more visible. Furthermore, reducing the undergrowth will not only make this habitat less attractive to snakes, but will also make snakes more visible. Both outcomes will decrease the incidence of lethal snake bites suffered by the women and children who collect the nuts.

The partnership has the potential to put in place effective programs that will support sustainable development of the agricultural resources in northern Ghana while protecting the environment. An added benefit of the partnership will be in human capacity-building in farming systems research to enable the Ghanaian institutions to contribute more fully to their national economy, by taking advantage of Canadian partner institution's internationally recognized strengths in research, and academic and outreach programs in natural resource management and animal agriculture.

Goal 1: To develop and transfer appropriate technology to increase productivity of shea nuts and shea butter, and to improve the welfare of women and children in northern Ghana.

Updates and Reports
CSAS-GSAP Program Update September 2007
News Release - Micro-Credit News 2007
Ghana Partnership Mid-Year Report
CSAS-GSAP_Project Update (Year1)

*Brief Profile of Ghanaian Partner Institution
GSAP is a professional body for animal scientists and others associated with the livestock industry in Ghana. The society has a membership of 210 scientists and professionals who are active in academia (universities and research institutes), policy development, production, processing and marketing. The broad aims of the society include:

Since its inception in 1987, GSAP has been at the forefront of the battle against malnutrition in Ghana and has always sought ways to highlight pertinent problems in the animal production industry through farmers' fora. The society holds a Scientific Conference and General Meeting annually at which advances and setbacks in the domestic livestock industry and possible solutions are reviewed. Resolutions adopted at these conferences are submitted to the national Government for consideration and implementation.

For further information on the project please contact either:

Canadian Society of Animal Science
Dr. John Baah
Research Scientist
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Research Centre
P.O. Box 3000
Lethbridge, Alberta T1J 4B1
Telephone: (403) 317-3340
Facsimile: (403) 382-3156
Email:baahj@agr.gc.ca

Ghana Society of Animal Production
Dr. K. Oppong Anane
OARDC,
P.O.Box CT 1738
Cantonments
Accra, Ghana
Telephone: +233-20-815-8267 and +233-28-507-6015
Email: koanane2000@yahoo.com