Shea Tree: Empowering African girls via Sustainable Improvement

The shea tree, which grows solely in Africa and whose fruit is harvested nearly solely by girls, is rising as an actual growth instrument in a few of the world’s poorest international locations.

Mali is among the world’s main producers of shea butter, together with Nigeria and Burkina Faso.

Within the rural commune of Siby almost one thousand girls work on the native cooperative Maison du Karité.

“As soon as drawn from the pot, we proceed to the filtration with a rod. Then, we take away the impurities. The following day, we come again to stir the liquid and take away the impurities on the backside of the pot. Lastly, we do the filtering, understanding that the oil is prepared earlier than placing within the jars”, stated Salimata Camara, a Maison du Karité worker.

In line with the Global Shea Alliance (GSA), sixteen million African girls from Senegal to South Sudan stay or survive off the shea tree, primarily in rural areas.

“One of many advantages of the cooperative is that it has offered employment for the ladies. Earlier than the cooperative, the ladies’s exercise was restricted to the wet season. However now it’s year-round”, added Filfing Koumare, Maison du Karité retailer supervisor.

One of many challenges is the shortage of coaching and monetary help, notably for advertising.

“One of many difficulties is the shortage of help. There isn’t any help. The truth that all of the bills fall on the Home, that may be a enormous issue”, denounced Assitan Kone Camara , President, Cooperative of Ladies Shea Butter Producers in Siby.

The mayor of the native city recognises the significance of this exercise.

“They (Maison du Karité, editor’s be aware) contribute drastically right now to the socio-economic growth of the commune via the merchandise made and bought on website. And, past that, you already know that the Maison du Karité, the benefit of this firm right now is that it attracts a number of outdoors prospects”, concluded Daouda Keita, Mayor of Siby.

Demand for the product, utilized in specific in meals (chocolate, biscuits) and cosmetics (lotions), has exploded in recent times, pushed by Western shoppers, who’re more and more eager to purchase merchandise offered as natural or pure.