VALUE CHAIN MAPPING OF SHEA AND HONEY AS NON-TIMBER FOREST PRODUCTS IN NORTHERN GHANA

Abstract

Shea fruits and honey are important non-timber forest products which provide income for most rural poor people in Northern Ghana. However, little attention is given the shea and honey sector in Northern Ghana regarding its management, use, value addition and market. The study was therefore carried out to determine the yields of honey and densities of shea trees, local uses and market opportunities of shea and honey, local conservation practices for sustainable harvest of shea and honey, identify the shea and honey value-chains currently in operation and to identify the constraints in shea and honey value-chain development. The primary data collection process made use of mainly key informant interviews, personal interviews and quadrats. The results showed that bee keepers in Northern Ghana harvest about 2-5gallons (14kg 34kg) of honey per hive per year. Shea seedlings regeneration and matured shea tree densities are higher in Northern Region as compared to the Upper East Region. The study also revealed several uses of shea and honey including medicinal and food uses. In terms of market access, majority of the honey producers in Upper East Region have ready market for their products unlike the producers in the Northern Region. Most of the communities have instituted several by-laws/regulations to ensure the sustainable harvest of shea fruits and honey. The challenges facing the honey and the shea sectors include poor pricing and inadequate market linkages. In conclusion, the study showed that Northern Ghana has great potentials in the honey and the shea sectors. It is recommended that a strong functioning marketing system composed of traders and producers associations should be formed to enhance capacity building and bargain for fair prices.