Harmattan: Mad rush for Shea butter in Kumasi… shoot up prices
The demand for Shea butter products in the Ashanti Region especially within the kumasi metropolis is growing in leaps and bounds due to the onset harmattan season.
The harmattan season
usually begin from November through to March, blowing dry wind and affecting visibility. However, due to climate change, the harmattan season is now starting to be more intense in the southern part of the country.
During this season most people experience extreme dryness of the skin with others developing cracks on theirs lips and undersurface of the foot, an extremely painful and discomforting experience.
To reduce the harmattan’s impact, people resort to using shea butter as pomade during this time of the year. As a result, some traders of Shea butter products have strategically positioned themselves to cash in on the high demand.
A visit by Silver FM’s AKWADAA NYAME to Alabar and Dr Mensa markets within the kumasi Metropolis saw most traders taking advantage of the season, with prices ranging GH₵1.00 for small quantity to GH₵50.00 for about 3.5 kilos of shea butter while 50 kilos is sold at GHc.1,500.
A Shea butter vendor at Alabar Hajia Fati, said the commodity was previously experiencing low patronage but with the harmattan now, demand has shot up and expected to increase as time goes on.
“Since last week, I have been recording more sells than the usual peak season before the Christmas break. We are making more profit from it,” she said, adding that 25 kilos of shea butter which used to sell at GH₵230 now goes for GH₵300.
Maame Nyarkoa, another Shea butter dealer corroborated that demand for the product has increased over the last few days due to the weather condition. “We hope to make some good sales before the departure of the harmattan because this is our only source of livelihoods.”
Shea butter, locally known as ‘nkuto’ is a slightly yellowish or ivory-coloured natural fat extracted from fruit of the Shea tree by crushing and boiling the nuts.
It is produced from shea nuts of the Karite trees. It is used to produce body cream products, among others. The commodity, which can be an important exporting earner for Ghana, is mostly grown and produced in the northern part of Ghana.
By: Akwadaa Nyame (SilverFM)
