Survey into the chewstick industry at Kejetia lorry station.
1978
Amponsah, S.
The study provides some information on the structure and economics of the chewstick industry at the kejetia lorry station in kumasi. The chewstick is one of the important minor forest products in Ghana. As a good substitute for toothpaste and toothbrush, it has a foreign exchange substitution value. It also provides a comfortable living for a number of small scale retailers and wholesalers and some revenue for the Forestry Department, Local Councils and Stools. Two main species are sold: Nsokodua (Garcinia afzelii Engl.) and Tweapea (G. kola Heckel.), with the former being by far the more important. Harvesting is undertaken by a number of full-time wholesalers who sell the produce as splints to the retailers. The latter are generally young women who are engaged full-time in the trade, though some schoolchildren are also involved on a part-time basis. The average gross takings of the retailers interviewed amount to about ¢21.00 a day, which give them a take-home profit of about ¢12.00 a day. Allowance must, however, be made for periods when they are unable to obtain supplies. The main problem of the industry is the inadequacy and high transport cost which sometimes result in inadequacy supplies and biodeterioration.
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