By Ruth ABOAGYE
The Ministry of Food and Agriculture under the OVCF programme and Agricultural Development Bank,(ADB), one of the leading universal banks in the country have recently partnered the Central Citrus Processing Limited with the aim of revamping the citrus industry.
Through this partnership, MoFA and ADB as well as Ghana Exim Bank ( providing financial guarantee) are giving financial support to the Central Citrus Processing Limited to develop and cultivate the over 75 thousand hectares of abandon citrus farms located in the Central Region-Cape Coast.
It is estimated that the company would generate an income of about GHC600 million after four years of operations.
Over 3,000 farmers within three districts including AAK district in the central region as well as 5,000 youths and women are excited as they enjoy partnership for Crop improvement as well as new varieties like the pisie orange as well as the passion fruits are being intergrated to enhance their income and replacement Support from Central Citrus Processing Limited (CCPL).
The CCPL, is the third largest citrus processing plant in Africa and expected to process over 15tons of oranges into fruit juice per hour.
The factory in partnership Ekumfi Juices and Processing Factory is poised to place Ghana at the forefront for natural fruits and Juices.
This support is expected to go a long way to create over 20000 sustainable jobs through the value chain and the outgrower support program and also cut down on the importation of fruit juice in to the country which currently stands at US$200million per annum.
The factory is the third largest with 15tons per hour and also the first largest passion fruits processing plant in Africa would be getting a direct off-take from the Ekumfi Fruits and Juices Factory to make sure their produce is used to blend the Eku tropical varieties to enhance its taste.
Ghana, per GIZ evaluation has the two most suitable sources of oranges which is a prudent venture that ADB has signed onto.
The enclave has over 75 thousand acres of citrus and with the support from ADB, it would scaled up economic activities sharply.
The average citrus farmer has abandoned the farm because of poor revenue coupled with insect infestation and plant diseases, together with unproductive work processes, which often hamper cultivation. Many of the seedlings are pest-ridden, making them useless for further planting.
This frustration usually makes the farmers to switch over to the cultivation of rubber and cassava.
For the past 10 years most citrus farms have been abandoned as the importation of finished products have outweighed the processing opportunities in the country.
ADB’s financial support is to help improve the quality of citrus production and increase sustainable income for all actors along the citrus value chain.
Citrus fruits have long been valued as part of a nutritious and tasty diet. The flavours provided by citrus are among the most preferred in the world, and it is increasingly evident that citrus not only tastes good, but is also good for people. It is well established that citrus and citrus products are a rich source of vitamins, minerals and dietary fibre (non-starch polysaccharides) that are essential for normal growth and development and overall nutritional well-being.
