i Parkia biglobosa - School of Forest Resources & Environmental ...

a large manufacturer could provide income to local farmers. The manufacturer has easier
access to alternative fuel sources and would be able to produce dawadawa on a larger
scale and at lower costs. In addition, by encouraging the use of soybean as an alternate
source for preparing dawadawa, the local demand for firewood would be decreased.
One of the main constraints to industry in Ghana, such as tomato processing or
cashew processing, is the insufficient supply of raw material sources to operate at full
capacity. The demand for dawadawa is growing within Ghana. Attitudes of people in
southern Ghana to dawadawa are changing. Traditionally only used in northern Ghana,
the demand for and availability of commercial dawadawa is increasing in southern
Ghana. Markets and kiosks are selling the dawadawa cubes while radio and television
commercials are advertising the dawadawa bouillon cubes.
NGOs and other development agencies must continue farmer education and
increase efforts promoting the benefits of agroforestry, which is the practice of
integrating trees with crops. Agroforestry requires and encourages farmers to actively
manage resources by planting and protecting the trees among crops. During this study, I
accompanied the Kandiga CCFI nursery extensionist as he spoke with several farmers.
We wanted to educate them on the advantages and benefits of agroforestry. Planting
trees would increase the supply of firewood, provide windbreaks preventing soil erosion,
and provide income, especially if fruit trees were planted among their farms. When I
arrived at Kandiga CCFI nursery, most of the tree species were non- native. At first I met
resistance when I suggested producing local seedlings such as shea tree (Vitellaria
paradoxa) and dua (P. biglobosa). The nursery produced a small number of local
seedlings the second year of my assignment, and we were pleased that farmers bought
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