Volta Region to get at least $100m from China-Africa development fund

Togbe Afede XIV, President of the Volta Region House of Chiefs, has said between $119 million and $500 million would be invested in agriculture in the region, under the auspices of the Volta Development Agency and China-Africa Development Fund.

He explained that the venture was a landmark project that would focus on the rearing of rabbits, cattle, and goats among other initiatives.

Togbe Afede, who was addressing a meeting of the House on Wednesday in Ho, said a delegation of Chinese investors would visit the country soon in connection with the project.

He said a Memorandum of Understanding had been signed between the Chinese investors and the chiefs of Juapong, who would lease 30,000 hectares of land along the Volta Lake for the project for the first 30 years subject to renewal.

Togbe Afede said 10,000 hectares of the land would be put to maize cultivation; animal feed production, veterinary services, fertilizer production and processing of export commodities.

He said the land along the Volta Lake, would be irrigated and the Chinese partners would develop an out-growers’ scheme involving the Ghana Rabbit Association.

Togbe Afede said the Agriculture Development Bank would be contacted to develop a guarantee scheme for out-growers, and appealed to chiefs and people of the region to take advantage of the scheme and engage in economic activities.

Source: GNA