Government establishes 30-acre hybrid shea tree demonstration farm in Tamale

The government has established a 30-acre demonstration farm dedicated to hybrid shea trees in Tamale's Tamale Metropolis. Named after President John Mahama, the "John Mahama Shea Demonstration Farm" aims to serve research, heritage, and potential shea tourism purposes. This farm showcases a hybrid shea variety developed by the Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana, which matures three years faster than the wild variety.

A Technical Management Committee oversees the farm, with the West African Centre for Shea Innovation and Research hosting it. Vice President Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang inaugurated the hybrid shea variety on Tuesday, accompanied by the Member of Parliament for Tamale South, researchers, and dignitaries. The event marked the opening of the World Shea Expo 2026, focusing on shea tree value addition and positioning Ghana in the global shea market.

The expo, attended by over 7,000 participants, emphasizes investment, innovation, processing, branding, and market access in the shea sector. The government aims to transform the shea belt into a center for processing, innovation, and commerce, promoting sustainability and fair returns. Vice President Opoku-Agyemang urged stakeholders to protect shea parklands from fires, degradation, and climate change threats.

The shea industry contributes significantly to Ghana's export earnings, with an estimated production of 130,000 to 150,000 metric tonnes annually. The hybrid shea demonstration farm is part of the government's strategy to boost shea production, aiming to increase annual output to 400,000 metric tonnes by 2030.