225
• Timely: The timing of the potential shea fruit income suited a local need: income
during the lean season.
• Adoptable: The project interventions were simple and accessible to many households: hand tools, training, unions and access to storage space and machinery.
The project did reveal some challenges. The business training and value chain
enhancement took longer to establish than was initially hoped, and price guarantees
from buyers could not be secured. Earlier prioritisation of these activities may make
them more successful in the future.
Evaluating the full environmental impact of the project was beyond the scope of
the study, but there is no doubt that continued use of shea trees entails ecosystem
benefits. One possible negative environmental consequence could be increased use
of fuel wood for shea processing. We did not see evidence of this, but if it is found
to be a problem, it could be managed by establishment of fuel lots. By preserving
and encouraging the maintenance of trees in the landscape, shea production combats desertification and promotes preservation of soil and water resources. By providing both a source of food and opportunities for cash income, it contributes to
healthier households and communities, making them more resilient in the face of
environmental shocks. In this case, the facilitation of increased shea butter production and sales offered significant benefits to the most vulnerable smallholder farmers: decreasing the number of people in extreme poverty.
References
Ahmed A, Hill R, Smith L et al (2007) The world’s most deprived: characteristics and causes of
extreme poverty and hunger. International Food Policy Research Institute, Washington, DC.
https://doi.org/10.2499/0896297705
Campbell B, Thornton P, Zougmoré R et al (2014) Sustainable intensification: what is its role
in climate smart agriculture? Curr Opin Environ Sustain 8:39–43. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.
cosust.2014.07.002
Carpena P, Kaboret B, Ouedraogo D et al (2016) Supporting the development of democratic and
locally controlled small-scale enterprises based on non-timber forest products in Burkina Faso.
Food Chain 6(2):77–91. https://doi.org/10.3362/2046-1887.2016.005
Coates J, Swindale A, Bilinsky P (2007) Household food insecurity access scale (HFIAS) for
measurement of food access: indicator guide. Food and Nutrition Technical Assistance,
Washington, DC
Elias M, Carney J (2007) African shea butter: a feminized subsidy from nature. Africa 77:37–62.
https://doi.org/10.3366/afr.2007.77.1.37
FAO (2013) Climate-smart agriculture sourcebook. Available at: http://www.fao.org/docrep/018/
i3325e/i3325e00.htm
FAO (2016) State of Food and Agriculture. Rome
FAO and FHI 360 (2016) Minimum dietary diversity for women: a guide to measurement. Available
at: http://www.fao.org/3/a-i5486e.pdf
Frelat R, Lopez-Ridaura S, Giller K et al (2016) Drivers of household food availability in subSaharan Africa based on big data from small farms. Proc Natl Acad Sci 113(2):458–463.
https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1518384112
18 Shea Butter: A Pro-Poor, Pro-Female Route to Increased Income
• Timely: The timing of the potential shea fruit income suited a local need: income
during the lean season.
• Adoptable: The project interventions were simple and accessible to many households: hand tools, training, unions and access to storage space and machinery.
The project did reveal some challenges. The business training and value chain
enhancement took longer to establish than was initially hoped, and price guarantees
from buyers could not be secured. Earlier prioritisation of these activities may make
them more successful in the future.
Evaluating the full environmental impact of the project was beyond the scope of
the study, but there is no doubt that continued use of shea trees entails ecosystem
benefits. One possible negative environmental consequence could be increased use
of fuel wood for shea processing. We did not see evidence of this, but if it is found
to be a problem, it could be managed by establishment of fuel lots. By preserving
and encouraging the maintenance of trees in the landscape, shea production combats desertification and promotes preservation of soil and water resources. By providing both a source of food and opportunities for cash income, it contributes to
healthier households and communities, making them more resilient in the face of
environmental shocks. In this case, the facilitation of increased shea butter production and sales offered significant benefits to the most vulnerable smallholder farmers: decreasing the number of people in extreme poverty.
References
Ahmed A, Hill R, Smith L et al (2007) The world’s most deprived: characteristics and causes of
extreme poverty and hunger. International Food Policy Research Institute, Washington, DC.
https://doi.org/10.2499/0896297705
Campbell B, Thornton P, Zougmoré R et al (2014) Sustainable intensification: what is its role
in climate smart agriculture? Curr Opin Environ Sustain 8:39–43. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.
cosust.2014.07.002
Carpena P, Kaboret B, Ouedraogo D et al (2016) Supporting the development of democratic and
locally controlled small-scale enterprises based on non-timber forest products in Burkina Faso.
Food Chain 6(2):77–91. https://doi.org/10.3362/2046-1887.2016.005
Coates J, Swindale A, Bilinsky P (2007) Household food insecurity access scale (HFIAS) for
measurement of food access: indicator guide. Food and Nutrition Technical Assistance,
Washington, DC
Elias M, Carney J (2007) African shea butter: a feminized subsidy from nature. Africa 77:37–62.
https://doi.org/10.3366/afr.2007.77.1.37
FAO (2013) Climate-smart agriculture sourcebook. Available at: http://www.fao.org/docrep/018/
i3325e/i3325e00.htm
FAO (2016) State of Food and Agriculture. Rome
FAO and FHI 360 (2016) Minimum dietary diversity for women: a guide to measurement. Available
at: http://www.fao.org/3/a-i5486e.pdf
Frelat R, Lopez-Ridaura S, Giller K et al (2016) Drivers of household food availability in subSaharan Africa based on big data from small farms. Proc Natl Acad Sci 113(2):458–463.
https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1518384112
18 Shea Butter: A Pro-Poor, Pro-Female Route to Increased Income