Kperisi (UW), March 19, GNA - The Sunbawiera Sheanuts Producers Association at Kperisi in the Wa Municipality has urged the government to help introduce sheabutter producers to foreign markets to gain better prices for their produce.

The Association said they were currently at the mercy of middle men and women who offered them prices that did not match their risks such as snakebites and other hardships that were associated with the production of Sheanuts and shea butter.

Alhaji Imoro Ayittey, Chairman of the Association, who made the appeal at meeting of the Association at the weekend observed that the price of Sheanuts and the butter had not changed since 2008. He said while the price of sheabutter was being sold in the United States of America (USA) at 88,000 US dollars per ton, in Ghana a Kilogramme was being purchased at GHC4.00..

The government must as a matter of urgency set up the Sheanut Development Authority to regulate the industry like that of cocoa for Sheanut producers to also enjoy from the fruits of their sweat, he added.

Alhaji Ayittey announced that the association had established a 100-acre Sheanut plantation which would be inter cropped with maize during the next farming season to raise additional income to finance activities of the association. He also appealed to the Ghana Cocoa Board which has responsibility for Sheanut to provide the association with tarpaulins, Wellington boots, gloves, solar dryers and lamps to aid them in their work.