author(s)
Eliezer Bortei Borketey-La, Peter Kwapong, Mary A Botchey and Grace Vanderpuije

abstract
A descriptive study was carried out in the Northern region of Ghana to examine the knowledge of stakeholders of Shea nut/butter production(collectors, processors and exporters) in pollination, awareness of Shea pollinators, their roles and the need to conserve them. Ten districts and two communities from each of the districts were randomly selected from the 26 districts of the Northern region of Ghana for survey. Thirty collectors and thirty processors were randomly selected from each community, making 60 collectors and 60 processors per district. Ten exporters were also sampled from the exporters in Tamale. Three separate structured questionnaires were used to collect data. Collectors (92.7%) and processors (94.5%) were predominantly females whilst 60% of exporters were males. Most collectors were below 30years whilst processors and exporters were above 30years and married. Majority of collectors (83.3%), processors (80.6%) and 40% of exporters have no formal education. There was a significant relationship between educational level and knowledge in pollination (X² = 38.8; d.f. = 6; P< 0.00). Most of the respondents have large household sizes. The respondents (collectors (79.3%), processors (65.2%) and exporters (50.0%) have little knowledge in pollination and poor awareness of Shea pollination. From the study it was concluded that Shea collectors, processors and exporter have very little knowledge in pollination and awareness of Shea pollinators. Education on the importance of Shea pollinators and activities which favour their abundance on Shea trees is recommended to Shea production stakeholders.