Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto
Government has cut
the sod for the construction of an avocado processing factory at Akyem-Nkronso
in the Abuakwa South Municipality of the Eastern Region.
As part of the One
District, One Factory initiative, the Akuapem Gold Agro Processing Limited
funded by EXIM Bank, intends to drive the agenda of government’s ‘Ghana Beyond
Aid’ to help reduce poverty in the rural Ghana.
Speaking at the
launch of the project, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, Minister of Food and
Agriculture, said the Akufo-Addo government aims to make the export of avocado
more attractive to Ghanaian farmers with a good price.
According to him,
avocado is a new commercial crop in Ghana because there is high demand for it
worldwide.
He said government imported
300,000 seedlings from Kenya for grafting last year to enable farmers to work
hard to reap good yields in the next four to five years.
The Agriculture
Minister commended Akuapem Gold Agro Processing Ltd for its bold initiative to
undertake the plantation project and construct a factory for fruit processing.
Albert Wilson,
Chairman of Akuapem Gold Agro Processing Ltd, on his part, revealed that about
5,000 youth will be gainfully employed with the commissioning of the newly
constructed avocado factory.
He said the first
phase of the company’s plantation development involves 2000 acres of high breed
avocado, adding that 200 acres of avocado are under cultivation with a target to
cover 10,000 acres over the next five years.
Mr. Wilson added
that “the Akyem Abuakwa and Akuapem areas were chosen because they provide
the most conducive climate for the project, the factory will have a processing
capacity of six to eight tonnes per hour.”
Gifty Ohene Konadu,
National Coordinator of the One District, One Factory initiative, said the
successful implementation of the Akuapem Gold Processing Ltd plantation and
factory would greatly improve the livelihood of the out-grower farmers in the
cultivation of avocado fruits.
The Okyehene
Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panyin, who chaired the function, commended President
Akufo-Addo for his vision of promoting industrialization in the country to
create jobs for the youth.
He, therefore, urged all stakeholders to support Akuapem Gold Agro Processing Ltd to succeed to create jobs for the people.
From Daniel Bampoe, Akyem – Nkronso
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