The Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) calls for diplomatic approach to resolving the impasse between Fulani Herdsmen (Pastoralists) and residents of farming communities where they reside.<\/p>\n
[contextly_sidebar id=”bUi4pIFwQQPYVaYpq6NrepbygEOW5LBf”]This comes at the back of incessant calls for the repatriation of Pastoralists whose cattle are allegedly destroying farmlands in some parts of the three regions of the north and the Brong Ahafo region.<\/p>\n
But the Northern Regional Director of MOFA, William Boakye Achampong suggests victims should always protest through their community chiefs.<\/p>\n
He was addressing participants at a day\u2019s workshop organized by the Institute of Statistical, Social And Economic Research (ISSER), University of Ghana and Research for Development in collaboration with ZEF University of Bornn-Germany.<\/p>\n
The workshop focused on the progress of agriculture and significance of the Shea industry in the Northern Region and the participants included women smallholder farmers, mango growers and some officials of MOFA.<\/p>\n
Mr. Boakye Achampong raised alarm over reports that some of the Pastoralists used sophisticated weapons during resistance, hence his call for tactful approach to solve the problem.<\/p>\n
RESEARCH REPORT ON SHEA INDUSTRY<\/strong> ISSER\u2019s principal investigator, Dr. Martha presented the report and posited that the industry had become the preserve of the aged (old women).<\/p>\n The report added that Shea products export remained a major problem which needed government\u2019s intervention. It further called for deeper regional cooperation in the sub-region where Shea nuts are produced.<\/p>\n It admonished traditional rulers to liaise with law enforcement agencies to enforce bye laws on bush burning to protect the Shea tree.<\/p>\n The report implored government to commit enough resources to revamp the Shea industry.<\/p>\n An expert in the Shea industry, Dr. J.A Yidana condemned the cutting of Shea trees for mango plantations.<\/p>\n He said government should place premium on the Shea industry since it remained the economic mainstay of most rural women.<\/p>\n A lecturer of the University for Development Studies (UDS), Dr. Michael Ayamga opined that women associated with the Shea industry remained impoverished because industry players continued to exploit them for financial gains.<\/p>\n He described the phenomenon as unacceptable and urged the industry players to stop cheating the women.<\/p>\n Dr. Ayamga maintained that poverty reduction in the country will be a mirage if rural women in the Shea industry do not get better prices for their services.<\/p>\n Some of the participants\u2019 acknowledged the indiscriminate cutting of Shea trees for mango plantations, industrial purposes and for firewood.<\/p>\n They impressed upon government to establish a Board responsible for the Shea industry.<\/p>\n –<\/p>\n By: Abdul Karim Naatogmah\/citifmonline.com\/Ghana<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) calls for diplomatic approach to resolving the impasse between Fulani Herdsmen (Pastoralists) and residents of farming communities where they reside. [contextly_sidebar id=”bUi4pIFwQQPYVaYpq6NrepbygEOW5LBf”]This comes at the back of incessant calls for the repatriation of Pastoralists whose cattle are allegedly destroying farmlands in some parts of the three regions of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":118063,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[],"tags":[17],"yoast_head":"\n
\nAccording to a research report on the Shea industry by ISSER and the ZEF University, the Shea industry in northern Ghana is gradually collapsing.<\/p>\n
\nThe report among several recommendations highlighted the need to use Shea butter for chocolate and other products which have high demand in local and international markets.<\/p>\n