Neem processors in the Kumbungu district have appeal to benevolent individuals or organization to come to their aid in purchasing extractor equipment to better their livelihood.
The processes involved in the extraction of the oil is very tedious due to lack of machinery and equipment for the extraction and this many of the processors say affects the quality of their output.
The Neem tree is an economic and essential tree. Its oil is good for its antioxidants and antibiotic effects. It fights bacterial infections on the skin, fights pests and insects on plants and at homes.
According to Madam Amina Issahaku, one of the processors at Gampirisiya-Kumbungu, they face a lot of challenges when it comes to cracking the nuts in order to get the seeds milled into flour and to extract the oil.
“We use the same grinding mills used for mills domestic mills such as flour for cooking and with the neem seeds using same grinding mills sometimes changes the flavor, taste and colour of their corn or cassava flour.”.
Madam Amina added that, this is processing neem seeds into oil has been what she does for a living and is able to support her daughter who is in the university.
On behalf of other women processors in her Gampirisiya-Kumbungu community, Madam Issahakau is appealing to the government, NGOs and individual entities to support them with processing units like shea butter processing units at Gumo in the Kumbungu district.
Story by: Ibrahim Adisah, Community Journalist Kumbungu.
