Save shea nut trees as an economic gem

Key points

• Shea nuts also contain calcium, glucose, fructose and sucrose
• The Sheabutter serves as a moisturizer and is naturally rich in vitamin A, E and F in addition to some other vitamins. It is thus able to sooth, balance and hydrate the skin.
• According to Uganda Investments Authority (UIA) global demand for shea nuts is over 350,000 tons, yet Uganda produces only 3 ton per year (compared to Ghana’s 60,000 tons).

By Clement Aluma

Ms Jacinta Amaguru, 51, a resident of Okavu village, Lazebu Parish, Logiri Sub county in Arua district wakes up every morning to move in bushes and people’s fields to go and pick shea nut seeds that have fallen down.

This is because if they (seeds) are still on the tree the fruits are not yet ripe and will not yield high quality shea butter. This requires gathering them by hand which is also the only way to pick up the fruits that have fallen in tall grasses and other bushes.

She narrates that the value for the shea nut seeds has grown up in recent times as buyers move to their villages looking for them.

“We only used to look for the seeds to make oil out of them for smearing our newborn babies and cooking food. But now people are coming to us almost daily wanting to buy and it has now made us very busy to search for them,” Amaguru said.

Her sentiment is also shared by Mr Elijah Miria, a resident of Auzia trading centre in the same parish who says he now protects and guards his shea nut trees for fear of intruders benefiting from his protected shea nut trees.

People have destroyed most of their shea trees for either charcoal, burning bricks or curing tobacco. They forgot that in the long run, they would have benefitted from them without cutting them down

But a recent case study of Uganda’s shea market in Northern Uganda by Climate Smart Jobs (CFJ) reveals that establishment of shea association in Uganda could trigger the development of its value chain to drive market awareness.

Products: A group of businessmen selling their shea nut products during an exhibition in Yumbe district. Images by Clement Aluma.

The study could also improve innovation, social protection, and shea resource sustainability. Basic business plans are also provided for each of the core recommendations in the study.

Though efforts have been made previously by the government of Uganda and private partners to develop the Ugandan shea value chain, minimal progress has been realized.

CSJ is eager to understand the opportunities to develop this value chain to benefit communities in Northern Uganda.

According to Uganda Investments Authority (UIA) global demand for shea nuts is over 350,000 tons, yet Uganda produces only 3 ton per year (compared to Ghana’s 60,000 tons).

The global shea butter market is expected to reach USD 2.9Bn by 2025, owing to increased demand for organic beauty products in the cosmetic industry. The investment opportunity targets production of 2000 tons of shea butter per year.

A renowned Shea nut Activist in West Nile, Mr Mustafa Gerima, said the rate at which the shear nut tree is destroyed in West Nile is high and that if no urgent steps are taken, they might lose the precious tree in the area.

“A Research that was done some time back showed that shear nut trees were at 27 per cent but as we talk now, it is less than 13 per cent. In the West Nile region, Madi Okollo district used to be the home of shear nut trees, but the area was cleared,” he said.

Existing infrastructure was evaluated, to identify gaps and opportunities for improving market access and value addition. Institutional efforts on shea propagation and parkland restoration were assessed and details on regulatory processes and potential for market impact are also provided in the study.

The findings also aimed to determine socio-economic and ecological impacts of the shea sector, particularly on women and smallholder farmers.

The shea industry in Uganda is underdeveloped, contributing less than 1% to international shea trade. There is robust local and regional demand for shea butter, especially in the confectionery and cosmetics sectors.

The West African shea crop is estimated at 1.6 million SETs (Shea Nut [shea kernel] Equivalent Tons), and the East and Central African (ECA) shea crop potential is estimated at 0.8 million SETs.

Shea nuts are important for their nutritional value, and the shea butter derived from them has many uses in skincare and haircare. Shea nuts can also help with food security and poverty reduction

The study makes recommendations among them which includes formation of Uganda National Shea Association (UNSA) with a professional secretariat to drive sustainability of the sector – People, Planet and Profit – and develop systems that support shea community members’ welfare and economic activities.

It recommends the restoration of shea parklands with improved shea propagation techniques. Use of nature-based solutions to finance agroforestry carbon credits.

Others are enhanced extraction, refining and fractionation. Improve quality and value addition. New product development for local and global markets and revise shea standards and improve quality assurance. Develop marketing and branding strategies to increase awareness and demand.

According to GIZ, most shipping of Nilotica shea products from Uganda is done by airfreight. Since Uganda is a landlocked country, it has no harbour, and all sea freight is done through either Mombasa or Dar es Salaam. Full container loads (about 15 tonnes depending on packaging method) take about 3 to 4 weeks to reach Rotterdam.

Startling life span

The shea tree, when it passes the germination stage in about three to five years, becomes fire resistant. Once it survives the first five years of its early stages of germination and growth, it grows slowly and takes about 30 years to reach maturity and from here, it can live for up to 300 years.

Editor: This story was produced with support from Info Nile in partnership with Palladium