Youth in Agriculture programme urged to consider pineapple export

Mr Albert Amponsah, Chief Executive Officer of Abe Farms of Oboadaka near Nsawam, has called on the authorities of the Youth in Agriculture Programme to consider pineapple production as a good source of foreign exchange.

He made the call with the Ghana News Agency when he inspected a one-and-a-half acre pineapple nursery at Oboadaka, which is under-going certification process by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture.

Mr Amponsah, who had cultivated a five acre pineapple farm at Oboadaka, said a lot of foreign exchange was earned from pineapple fruits export annually and that when the youth engaged in it, the
country would make substantial gains to improve the lives of people.

The CEO said he was ever-ready to supply some pineapple seedlings to youth groups, who were interested in farming in the area, for them to earn decent living in the communities rather than going to the cities to engage themselves in menial jobs.

Mr Amponsah commended the government for releasing more agricultural funds to assist farmers to expand their farms.

He appealed to chiefs and landowners to release lands for the cultivation of pineapple plantation to feed the juice factories and for export.

Mr Amponsah said currently he had engaged 10 groups from the National Youth Employment Programme, who trade and market his farm produce in the Akuapem South Municipality.

Source: GNA