Demand for fresh produce from Ghana increases.... Pg 38. Mon. May 26/08

Story Rebecca Quaicoe Duho
International demand for fresh produce from Ghana has risen to $30 million this year.
This imposes on the Federation of Associations of Ghanaian Exporters (FAGE) the need to deliver quality and well packaged fresh produce such as mangoes, pawpaw, pineapples, oranges, melons and chillies to the EU, Asia and some countries in the West African sub-region.
This was made known at a briefing of FAGE members on the outcome of the world’s largest trade fair for fresh produce, dubbed Fruit Logistica, held in Berlin in February 2008.
Ghana’s participation was led by FAGE, which was the main exhibitor at the fair, with seven other producer and exporter associations, namely, Sea Freight Pineapple Exporters Association of Ghana (SPEG), the Horticulturists Association of Ghana (HAG), the Vegetable Producers and Exporters Association of Ghana (VEPEAG), the Ghana Association of Vegetable Exporters (GAVEX), the Yilo-Krobo Mango Farmers Association (YKMFA), the Dangme-West Mango Farmers Association (DAMFA) and the Papaya and Mango Producers and Exporters Association of Ghana (PAMPEAG).
A consultant to FAGE, Mr Augustine Adongo, who briefed the members, said the objective of Ghana’s participation was to showcase the industry’s capacity to supply a variety of top quality fresh produce.
Another key objective was for industry participants to interact with existing and new clients, as well as potential partners, to learn more about market trends and industry practices.
Mr Rowland Aggor of the Ghana Export Promotion Council (GEPC), who gave an overview of Ghana’s horticultural industry, said some of the critical challenges in the industry were the issue of marketing, logistics, cultivation and post- harvest treatment and packaging.
However, he said demand for Ghana’s fresh produce in the EU and other markets had been encouraging, adding, “We are not able to take advantage of the market opportunities.”
He said the EU was still Ghana’s major market, taking 46.55 per cent of the country's total exports.
The acting Chief Executive of the Export Development and Investment Fund (EDIF), Mr Kwabena Nkrumah, said the fund had granted loans amounting to GH¢73,279,689 for 185 projects through 19 financial institutions.
He said the funded projects were mainly in the agro-processing and agricultural sectors.
He said EDIF had also provided financial assistance in the form of grants amounting to GH¢21,839,985 to research institutions and universities, government agencies, producer associations and farmer-based organisations.