Mango production, Part of “one district one factory” initiative – Minister
Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto, the Minister for Food and Agriculture (MOFA) has said Government would clasp mango production into the one district one factory policy to create jobs and wealth for the youth and women.
He said the Ministry of Local Government was working MOFA to support the mango producing districts to encourage more youth to take mango production.
“We will embrace this project, because, apart from the job creation, mango plantations contribute to stabilizing the environment and ecosystem.
“It plays the dual role of commercial plantations as well as afforestation in a very fast degrading environment due to agricultural activities”, he said.
Dr Afriyie Akoto said this in a speech read on his behalf at the first day of a two-day Ghana Mango Week event held under the theme: “Mango, Ghana’s green gold: Growing for food and creating jobs”.
It was organised by The West Africa Trade and Investment Hub in collaboration with the Federation of the Association of Ghanaian Exporters (FAGE), German Cooperation/Deutsche Zusammenarbett (GIZ) and the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA).
The symposium brought together 250 farmers, producers, exporters, processors, dealers, financial institutions, government representatives, donors and service providers to unlock Ghana’s mango potential and contribute to the country’s effort to enhance exports and accelerate economic growth in the domestic fruit processing industry.
He said the world production exceeds 43 million metric tonnes yearly and the demand for mangoes keeps rising adding that Ghana was one of the few countries that is able to produce mangoes two times in a year.
He said statistics shows that in 2016, Ghana exported 2,122 metric tonnes of fresh mangoes valued at US$ 11.6 million aside the fresh cuts, juiced and dried mangoes.
Dr Afriyie Akoto said challenges that had confronted the industry included the fruit fly menace, the bacteria black spot, mealy bugs, climate change effects, high cost of input, limited credit and financing of the industry and land problems.
He said government would continue to work with various stakeholders to fashion out workable interventions facing the industry.
Source: GNA
