Wa, April 13, GNA - Africa earned 10.5 million dollars from 56,000 tonnes of sheanuts exported in 1998 of which 60 per cent came from Ghana.

Dr. A.B. Salifu, Director of Saharan Agricultural Research Institute (SARI) announced this at two-day stakeholders' workshop on sheanuts in Wa on Thursday, which was on the theme: "Revamping the sheanut industry".

He said the crop has seen an exponential increase in exports the period 1997/2002 with annual dry kernel exports ranges 32,000 to 45,000 tonnes, traded almost exclusively by OLAM and Kassardjan companies. Dr. Salifu who presented a paper on: "Research and the sheanut industry in Ghana" said, despite its social and economy value, data suggest that parklands have been degraded in terms of tree density. Lack of regeneration and increasing rural populations as well as insects and diseases threaten the sustainability of the shea tree. Dr. Salifu called for improvement in sheanut production in the country to complement Cocoa as a foreign exchange earner to enhance national economy.

He said: Sheanut is cocoa of the North and its production must be vigorously pursued. We must work to reduce the gestation period, which stand between 10-25 years", adding: "More understanding knowledge on tree stand productivity is needed for improved management." Dr. Salifu suggested the mapping of shea trees to enhance rapid screening of potentially productive trees for nurseries. This, he said, would permit the establishment of shea tree plantations with greater chance of synchronous flowering and in a more predictable cycle of time.

He advocated for coalition partnership approach to achieve holistic participation of all stakeholders in the shea industry in the country to make it a vibrant one.

The shea, which is of two species, the Vitellaria paradox and Nilotica, has the following chemistry: sweet edible fruit pulp contains 0.7 - 1.3g protein, 41.2 mg carbohydrate and 196.1 mg/100g ascorbic acid.

The seed kennel contains sheabutter, 100g dry matter, fat 31-62g protein, 7.9g carbohydrate, 31-38g unsaponifiable and matter 25-12g. It is used indigenously as cooking fat and fatty acids. Refined fat is marketed as margarine and baking fat as well as for cosmetics. Seed-planting fruit bats ensure continued life for the shea tree.