Wilmar Africa Expands Oil Palm Plantations

Management displaying the product

Kwame Wiafe, General Manager of Wilmar Africa Limited, producers of Frytol vegetable cooking oil, says the company is encouraging more farmers to go into the cultivation of oil palm in order to meet the company’s production requirements.

According to him, the company’s 6,000-hectare oil palm plantation at Benso in the Central Region and those of other smallholder farmers are inadequate to meet their needs, adding that they import oil palm from neighbouring countries.

Addressing journalists at the company’s production unit in Tema during the re-launch of Frytol vegetable oil lately, he explained that management was encouraging local farmers, associations and other organized groups to go into the cultivation of oil palm by providing the interest groups with palm seedlings, technical support and payment of premium, among others.

He further explained that the re-launch of Frytol forms part of the company’s efforts to stay in touch with the youth and also correct negative impression about the product.

Mr. Wiafe also indicated that production of Frytol had increased sharply from 200 metric tonnes a day to 1,000 metric tonnes under the new managers- Wilmar Africa which purchased the brand from Unilever.

Speaking on the company’s contributions to employment generation, he revealed that it has created 6,050 jobs for Ghanaians in the various units of the company.

According to him, 3,000 farmhands, including technical personnel, are engaged at its Benso Palm Plantation, with 2,000 and 1,050 respectively at its refinery and factory located in Tema in the Greater Accra region.

“Management has installed new and modern machinery, with a further boost to research to enhance the health value of the product which has gained over 80% household penetration nationwide and beyond,” he indicated.

“In as much as the product is penetrating the market, it’s however worrying that Ghana is unable to meet our production needs to feed our mills therefore pushing management to import fresh fruits from Nigeria, Ivory Coast and other sources to meet our needs, he added.

By Solomon Ofori

 

 

 

 

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