Abstract

The Covid-19 pandemic significantly disrupted agro-processing industries globally, but its gendered impact on informal, women-led enterprises remains underexplored. This study investigates the effects of the pandemic on women-led shea butter processing enterprises in northern Ghana, examining how production, labour availability, profitability, and market access were affected and what resilience strategies were employed in response. Despite the shea butter sector’s vital role in rural women’s livelihoods—supporting over 600,000 women—the pandemic exacerbated pre-existing structural vulnerabilities, including low access to finance, technology, and formal markets. Using a mixed-methods design, the study draws on quantitative data from 390 processors across Tamale, Sagnerigu, and Kumbungu, as well as qualitative insights from focus group discussions and key informant interviews. Statistical analyses (paired t-tests, chi-square, and correlation analysis) were complemented by thematic content analysis using resilience and intersectionality frameworks. Findings reveal sharp declines in labour availability and production during the pandemic, with the average output of production falling from 2,650 to 1,700 kg and labour hours dropping significantly. Profit margins fell by over 20%, while access to export markets and advanced processing technologies remained limited. However, women processors adopted diverse mitigation strategies, including local sourcing of shea nuts, product diversification, cooperative labour pooling, and microfinance interventions. The study concludes that women-led shea enterprises demonstrated remarkable resilience despite institutional neglect. It recommends gender-responsive rural extension services, inclusive digital infrastructure, improved access to credit, and community-based resilience-building policies. Strengthening rural development frameworks to integrate informal women entrepreneurs is essential for enhancing the adaptive capacity and sustainability of agro-processing sectors in future crises.  

Key words: Covid-19 impact, crisis, shea butter processing, women-led enterprises.