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