Project To Develop The NTFPs Sector In Northern Ghana Launched

Nutrition and health are fundamental pillars of human development across the entire life-span. The potential role of Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) in improving nutrition and health and reduction of poverty particular among rural folks has been recognized in recent years. NTFPs continue to be an important source of household food security, nutrition, and health, according to research.

But despite their significant contribution to food security, nutrition, and sustainable livelihoods, these tend to be overlooked by policy-makers over the years. NTFPs have not been accorded adequate attention in development planning and in nutrition-improvement programmes in the North and Ghana as a whole.

In view of the aforesaid, Tree Aid in collaboration with The Netherlands Development Organisation (SNV) and four local organizations, have developed a project to foster trade in the shea, honey and support the development of other NTFPs found in Northern Ghana. The project which was launched in Tamale recently brought together actors in the NTFPs sector within and outside Ghana. The launch, which preceded a workshop, provided the opportunity for participants to also brainstorm on the potentials of the NTFPs sector, challenges and solutions to over the problems.  

According to Tree Aid, Northern Ghana suffers from general persistent poverty. Poverty rates it observed, have declined elsewhere but not in the three regions of the North (Upper East, Upper West and Northern Regions). Poverty rates remain from 2 to 3 times the national average which is 39%. Northern is 69%; Upper East 88% and Upper West 84%, it cited. 

The North faces chronic food insecurity and is vulnerable to drought, the organisation further observed, adding that life expectancy, education and health indicators were all lower in the area whilst emigration rates were high, especially among young people.

Smallholder agriculture, according to the organisation, was the major activity amongst the people. Most families also collect tree products as the market for these products was growing. For instance, it said demand for shea grew by 25% in 2008/09, representing an export value of USD 30 million in 2010. Experts reckon this could triple since SADA has ‘green growth’ plan for the North, including NTFPs. 

Working in 22 communities in the three regions of the North, the three year project spanning September 2011 to September 2014 and funded by Comic Relief’s Trade Programme, would directly benefit 8,000 people and indirectly benefit nearly 900,000, approximately 60% women. 

Also, working with 5 partners including SNV, CSRC, Trax, IEAPP and Jak Sally, the project would focus on honey and shea value chains.

Objective of project

According to Elvis Paul Tangem, Value Chain Development Manager of Tree Aid West Africa, the project implementers who include some university scholars, would aim at increasing productive capacity of producers; improve pro poor coordination of honey and shea value chains; and support producers to participate in policy and market dialogues.

It would also develop ‘best’ approaches for supporting small scale producers and organisations research and evidence-based approach; support the emergence of neglected and underutilised NTFPs species; improve technical and organisational capacity of producers as well as increase business skills and knowledge of producers, he added. 

Besides, he explained that the project would establish sub-regional and regional networks for honey and shea value chains (producer groups, buyers, processors and consumers), each with a Value Chain Management Committee and develop exit strategy for self funding, self sustaining value chain networks and management committees.  

So far, Mr. Tangem stated that sensitisation of beneficiaries, constitution of groups, identification of capacity gaps and development of training modules had been done.

What are NTFPs?

The term NTFPs encompasses all biological materials other than timber which are extracted from forests, other wooded lands, and trees outside forests and domesticated, that include products used as food and food additives (edible nuts, mushrooms, grass-cutters, snails, fruits, herbs, spices and condiments, aromatic plants, game), fibres (used in construction, furniture, clothing, or utensils), resins, gums, and plant and animal products used for medicinal, cosmetic or cultural purpose for human use). Examples of NTFPs products include dawadawa, baobab, ebony, red berries, grasses, morringa, sheanuts, honey, among others.

Benefits of NTFPs

NTFPs form an integral part of the livelihood strategy of rural communities in the tropics and continue to be an important component of household nutrition and health in Africa. They are particularly an important component of household subsistence, especially in terms of food consumption, nutrition, and health. In Ghana, a considerable amount of food and medicinal plants can be gathered from the forest and bushy fallow areas or are semi-domesticated. NTFPs contribute substantially to nutrition, either as part of the family diet or as a means to achieve household food security. They also improve health through the prevention and treatment of diseases.

Some hard facts

Neighbouring Francophone country Burkina Faso has almost the same climatic conditions like Ghana. Most crops cultivated in that country can also be produced in Ghana. Examples include maize, rice, sorghum, groundnuts, millet, yam, soya beans, bambara beans, beans, variety of vegetables, among others. Almost all tree crops in Burkina Faso can also be found in Ghana.

About 250 indigenous trees and plants with healing properties have been scientifically catalogued in Ghana by Abbiw et al. Also, NTFPs potentialities in Burkina Faso according to that country’s Non-Timber Forest Products Agency, availability of forest resources is 19,048,352 hectares, that is 70% of the national territory; biological diversity in the kingdom plantae: 376 species including 95 exotic ligneous, 812 herbaceous, 28 mushrooms and 191 algae; fruits and seeds: 52 timber species; edible leaves: 16 timber species; natural gums and resins: 13 timber species; saps and latex: 2 timber species; tubers, rhizomes and roots: 6 timber species; bark and stems: 24 timber species; edible mushrooms: 21 species; straws: 7 species; forage plants: 76 species; honey: 2 timber species; edible insects: 2 species; and medicinal NTFPs: 527 medicinal plants.   

In Burkina Faso, NTFPs are the third source of income for rural households with 23%, following agriculture 37% and livestock production 24%. The women’s gains from NTFPs sale are higher than what their husbands provide for the household needs. NTFPs foods are the only solution to food shortage for most of the peasant farmers. 100 grams of baobab fruit contains 360 mg of vitamin C, while orange contains only 57 mg. 75% to 90% of the populations of developing countries essentially use medicinal plans for their healthcare.