High-value Syrup from 'Prekese' Fruits for Community Livelihood Empowerment

Building rural enterprises to produce Prekese syrup
Green Technologies
Kumasi
Ghana

Relying on local raw materials, this initiative promotes the sustainable cultivation and harvesting of Prekese fruits in rural communities, allowing income to be generated over the whole life cycle of the tree. Small scale extraction plants will be set up in selected communities to process Tetrapleura tetraptera (Prekese), an indigenous tree species, which grows in the wild and on people's farms. Women and unemployed youths will be trained in the production of Prekese syrup which will then be commercialised on the local and national market. Furthermore, the establishment of Prekese plantations in rural areas is planned to ensure a constant supply of quality fruit. 

Eco-Inclusive Impacts
This initiative accelerates the growth of local economy by improving capacity and skills of women and youth and inspiring them to be entrepreneurs.

  • Improving production and processing skills and capacities of the communities to raise awareness on sustainable harvesting techniques. This results in direct community involvement and empowerment, especially of women and youth in rural areas.

  • Serving as carbon sink thus contributing to climate change mitigation.
  • Reducing the indiscriminate dumping and burning of waste by promoting the use of spent pulp in the production of animal feed.
  • Inspiring new entrepreneurs to take initiatives across Ghana.
  • Raising income levels of the local people; more than 10 new businesses and inclusion or retention of more than 5,000 employees throughout the country is expected.

Partners

Relying on local raw materials, the partners of this promising initiative strive to establish the sustainable cultivation and harvesting of Prekese fruits in rural communities, allowing income to be generated over the whole life cycle of the tree.

CSIR - Forestry Research Institute is in charge of upgrading, transferring and promoting the processing technology which has been developed and coordinates production and marketing activities.

CONDEF - Conservation and Development Foundation conducts awareness-raising activities on cultivation and sustainable harvesting of Prekese fruits in communities.

TODAY - Training of Disadvantaged African Youths facilitates the establishment of small- scale Prekese syrup enterprises.