The Minister of Agriculture, Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto, has cut the sod for the construction of an avocado processing factory at the Akyem Nkroso in the East Akim Municipality of the Eastern Region.
The company, Akuapem Gold Agro Processing limited will have a plantation, an out-grower program and factory in the area.
The factory falls under governments flagship program Planting for Export and Rural Exports.
The factory which will be cultivating avocado for local consumption and export has the capacity to produce and package six tonnes of avocado a day. The factory when completed is also expected to produce 9,000 tonnes a year.
Speaking at the ceremony, Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto was optimistic about the prospect of jobs for people in the Akyem area.
“This is a very strategic investment in Okyeman because avocado is the crop for the future, the total world trade in avocado is over 16 billion dollars growing at a fast rate of nearly 10 percent per annum so therefore the originators have chosen well and it is an indication of the president’s vision of transforming and modernizing agriculture”.
Dr Akoto added, “this is an agenda to transform agriculture to the extent that there will not be low productivity, post-harvest losses and be driven by positive attitudes that will improve and provide food security and profitability. The Akuffo Addo government seeks to make agriculture a more productive and sustainable venture that will provide employment and investment to Ghanaians and foreigners”.
Mr Albert Kwame Wilson the Chairman of Akuapem Gold Agro Processing Limited who was happy about the collaboration with the government in an interview with Citi News indicated that the factory will improve the living standards in the area.
“Out growers will earn good money and they can assist their wives to set up eatery joint or go to Accra buy used clothing to come and sell, both direct and indirect jobs will be created which will help reduce poverty, economic activities within the catchment areas will increase which will reduce migration to urban centres. We will also export the products which will also help the country to earn foreign exchange, plantain, cocoyam and others will be added along the way as intercrops to improve food security for the country”.