Shea butter livelihoods and challenges faced by women in the Kassena Nankana districts, Ghana

Shea butter has recently been recognized as an essential commodity with the potential to drive growth and reduce poverty, particularly among women in the Savannah zone of West Africa. This study delves into the shea butter industry’s production, marketing, utilization, and challenges faced by women in the Kassena Nankana Districts. Data was collected through a questionnaire survey and in-depth interviews. Shea butter processing has emerged as a sustainable livelihood for women, with varying levels of prosperity depending on their level of investments and marketability. Unfortunately, the production process still relies on rudimentary technologies that demand significant manual labor. Shea butter stands out for its versatility, serving local consumers in a variety of applications, including cooking, skin moisturization, and sunburn prevention. Yet, shea butter producers encounter several obstacles, such as limited access to financing, inadequate water resources, inability to acquire modern processing machinery, and ineffective marketing strategies, all of which hinder their ability to expand production and tap into external economies of scale. Shea butter processing plays a pivotal role in women’s income generation and empowerment. Consequently, there is an urgent need for government policies aimed at bolstering the shea value chain to enhance the well-being of women in shea-producing regions, while also addressing the critical issue of food security in the area.