SEA NUT DESTRUCTION CRIPPLING PRODUCTIVITY ALONG SEA BELT ZONE

Sea nut oil extracted from sea nut tree is on high demand in the entire country of Uganda and other foreign outside countries worldwide because

The tree that produces both edible product and smearing oil in term of butter also has been said that it’s the best in producing charcoal pieces for cooking and production of heat energy.

However, in northern Uganda and west Nile region perception of the community is geared towards the last destructive product of cutting down this tree and burning them to get only charcoal product and that is contributing to the low productions of sea nut products in these regions.

On a recent engagement of the sea nut dealers in Acholi and west Nile region by the German Corporation to deliberates on the challenges facing sea nut production in the region and its solution, the emerging factors were rampant cutting down this tree product, poor processing, branding and networking , Limited scale on consumer packaging among others.

In the same line, these local producers of sea nut products continued saying that the major challenge is cutting down of these tree species in large number  by the ignorant community in context to burn them for  charcoal business, they are urging the government top come with a strong By law to protect sea nut  tree cuttings .

Mary Orodriyo a trader in sea butter business from West Nile region said there is also no price target in the primary processing of the sea nut due to manipulation.

  

Charles Lagora Pader District commercial officer added that the problem is also based on long value chain which is always found by individual player in the sector by uses of fake weighing scale which is leading to adulteration of the product.

Robert Abak the resident district Commissioner Otuke appealed that the processors should use the resources that they have to support their product citing uses of local media to create awareness and advertise their products.

Joyce Anguduyo another dealer said cutting of seanut tree is making it hard for them to reap quality from the product and people needs to be aware on the dangers of cutting down this tree species and government should impose policy to combat the vice .

Alex Tabule the certification officer Uganda national Bureau of standard said these farmers needs to know the limited uptake on implementation of standards, technology, harvesting process and suitable packaging  equipment should also be good enough to protect the sensitive product , quality improvement through standards and identification of gaps among others should be embraced .

Debrah Akatabi a researcher submit that conservation of these tree species should be embraced by involving churches , schools and other institutions to plant in order to keep them present since it only takes fifteen years to grow and mature for the harvest .

In 2006 the president of the republic of Uganda H;E Musevani Kaguta issued warning  through district Resident commissioners in  all the sea belt zone of Karamoja , Lango ,Acholi and West Nile for protection of this tree species as cash crop because of its economic value.