"Shea Conference in Nikki"

The global demand for shea butter in the food and cosmetics industries keeps growing, which represents a great opportunity for producing and exporting countries. In Benin, very high-quality nuts are produced and there is great production potential, still untapped. Even though shea represents the country's third export product, after cotton and cashew, several challenges remain to be met in order to get Beninese shea recognized worldwide, as it represents barely 2% of world production according to FAO statistics.

Under the slogan "Sowing shea to cultivate the future", Nikki hosted this past July 6 the first edition of the Shea Conference, an event organized by OAN Nikki in which representatives of the main actors of the shea sector gathered, as well as the authorities of this region of northern Benin, with the aim of sharing the state of shea production at the national level and the different problems that arise, as well as learning about the different actions being carried out to protect the shea tree and improve production conditions and, finally, to propose new solutions.

The conference began with the presentation by the representative of the Nikki town hall, Kora Sanni K. Nouhoun, and then gave way to Kotchoni Razack (professor in agro-economics), Ayedehin Viassého Arnaud (coordinator of FMPK-National Federation of Shea Producers of Benin) and Boddi Z. Soumaïla (representative of the Citizen Participation Unit). Finally, there was the intervention of Zime Cyriaque (ATDA4/Nikki) together with the women who process shea butter in the municipality of Nikki.

During the different speeches, the immense value and potential that shea has for the economic and social development of Benin was highlighted. Less common uses of shea that represent a great opportunity were also mentioned. For example, the waste and the shells of the nuts can be used to make charcoal and waxes for the cosmetics industry, and the shea pulp to create an alcoholic beverage.

In most of the presentations, special emphasis was placed on the importance of preserving the shea tree, which is at risk of extinction despite the measures taken by the government. This tree is only present in 21 countries, all of them sub-Saharan. In Benin, it only grows in the north of the country, which makes the production of the butter a unique opportunity for growth for the women of rural areas.

On the other hand, the various problems faced by the women producers of the region were presented, among which are the lack of adequate equipment to improve yield, the need for training and learning for the women of the more rural areas, the absence of internal organization of the producer groups or the low capacity for self-financing.

During the presentation by Ayedehin Viassého Arnaud, the work of the National Federation of Shea Producers of Benin, or FNPK, was presented, an organization created in 2020 with the aim of defending the interests of the women producers and protecting the shea tree. It covers 903 villages and works with 70,000 women, but all the shea producers of the country can access it.

Measures are currently being taken to improve the situation of the women producers and preserve the shea tree, such as financing projects with microcredits or the planting of new trees. To close the conference, it was proposed to continue along these paths and work on new solutions. Among the most interesting are the proposals to plant, monitor, protect and maintain young shea plants, make use of assisted natural regeneration, create local management agreements, or work on raising society's awareness through means such as the radio.