Prof. Gabriel Teye, Vice Chancellor of University for Development Studies
The Vice-Chancellor of the University for Development Studies (UDS) Prof. Gabriel Ayum Teye, has called on the Forestry Commission and assemblies to institute measures to protect shea trees from being felled indiscriminately.
He stated that shea trees had the potential to boost the country’s export hence the need for all stakeholders to help protect it.
Prof. Teye made this call at the World Bank Regional Dissemination workshop in Tamale yesterday.
The two-day regional workshop was to disseminate the key findings on shea parklands from a World Bank study dubbed “Leveraging agricultural chains to enhance tropical free cover and slow deforestation – LEAVES.”
It would also support building strong knowledge-based partnerships and regional collaboration toward improving productivity from both food security and sustainable jobs for women and youth standpoint in the fragile ecological landscape.
The workshop which drew multidisciplinary expertise from regional institutions, key government agencies, development partners, commodity producer associations and private sector, would help identify pathways to implement the lessons and recommendations through collaborative planning and partnership.
The Vice-Chancellor stated that it was imperative for all to join forces to protect the shea tree, having identified some key factors driving the degradation and loss of shea agro-forest.
He said the UDS over the years came out with research finds to boost the shea tree and shea industry and that the university was ready to share its findings to make good use of the shea tree.
The Northern Regional Minister, Mr Salifu Saeed, said the workshop was timely as it would strengthen the shea industry in the country, assuring of the government’s commitment to promoting shea nut production.
Mr Saeed commended the World Bank’s support for the workshop and indicated the regional council’s readiness to collaboration with counterparts in the sub-region to achieve the goals of the project.
FROM YAKUBU ABDUL-MAJEED, TAMALE
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