EFFECTS OF SHEA BUTTER PROCESSING ON THE ENVIRONMENT IN TAMALE METROPOLIS

Abstract

Shea tree is an indigenous and exclusive asset in West and Central Africa and particularly wide spread in the Northern Savannah areas of Ghana. In these areas, whilst many praise shea butter for constituting an income source for women, others think the activity is detrimental to the environment because of its high use of both water and fuelwood. This study examined the effects of shea butter processing on the environment in Tamale Metropolis with three core objectives; to examine the differences that exist in resources used in shea butter processing methods in the Tamale Metropolis, to examine the effects of shea butter processing on the environment and to provide policy recommendations based on the findings of the research to improve upon the environmental situation in the Tamale Metropolis. Interviews, focus group discussions and field observation were used for the study.The finding is that the semi-mechanised method is more suitable in terms of resource maximisation than the traditional method. The study also revealed that fuelwood used in the study area contributes to deforestation in Yendi and West Mamprusi Districts of the Northern Region.It is recommended that efforts be made by Forestry Service Division for the enforcement of regulations on natural resource utilisation. Also, government should subsidise liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and make it available to shea butter processors so as to minimise their over dependence on fuel wood as source of energy. ii