By
Anthony Apubeo, GNA
Kanabisi (UE), Dec
6, GNA – World Vision Ghana has constructed and inaugurated two shea butter
processing factories in the Talensi District of the Upper East Region, to
empower rural women to increase production and improve livelihoods.
The two factories
with installed processing machines and equipment located at Kanabisi and Sheaga
communities are providing direct employment to over 200 women.
The factories were
fully funded by the Australian Government through its High Commission to Ghana,
at a cost of about US$52,000 which is equivalent to GH¢232,000.00.
Mr Dickens Thunde,
the National Director, World Vision Ghana, explained that the gesture came off
on the background of a baseline study, which revealed the abundance of shea
trees in the district and the potential of the shea nut industry in the
district, which could empower the rural women in the area.
“The estimated
annual shea kernel production in Ghana was about 130.000 metric tonnes and
women in the communities have indigenous skills in shea nut and shea butter
processing, so we are supporting to train them on value addition, best
practices in shea industry to enable them produce in commercial quantities and
take advantage of the growing demand globally for shea butter, especially from
Ghana”, Mr Thunde said,
Mr Thunde said the
women’s group managing the Sheaga Shea butter processing had so far been able
to produce and supply over one tone of shea butter valued at GH¢10,000.00 for
export in 2019.
The National
Director said his outfit established similar shea butter processing centres in
the Bawku West and Garu Districts to economically and socially empower the
women for improved household food security and income generation.
He said, “The
project will continue to work with the district assembly and other relevant
partners to develop effective markets for the products and its related value
chain for sustainability of the factories”.
Mr Andrew Barnes,
the Australian High Commissioner to Ghana, reiterated the commitment of the
government of Australia to supporting sustainable and inclusive agriculture
production, economic growth and food security in Ghana.
“This project aligns
with Australian Aid policies by improving food production in northern Ghana,
which, although is a relatively productive region, grapples with low
agriculture productivity as a result of climate change and unsustainable
agricultural practices,” the Commissioner added.
Dr Christopher
Boatbil, the District Chief Executive for the area, lauded the efforts of the
World Vision Ghana and the Australian Government for the investment in the
district over the years and said it was complementing government’s efforts of
ensuring economic and social empowerment for the women.
The DCE admonished
the women to make good use of the facilities to increase their income
generation and improve on their livelihoods and their families particularly
children.
The beneficiary
women expressed gratitude to World Vision Ghana and its partners and said the
facilities were a big relief to them and it would help to curb migration of
women to the southern part especially during the dry season.
Ms Enerstina Apuure,
one of the beneficiaries indicated that their production rate increased so
much, from a few pans a day to about five maxi bags of the shea nuts in a day,
with the use of the machines.
GNA
