Ghana now exports 65,000 tonnes of banana yearly, exceeds World Bank estimates
Ghana is currently exporting 65,000 metric tonnes of banana per year, Trade and Industry Minister Hanna Tetteh says.
In the last five to six years, the country has increased its banana exports from 4000 metric tonnes to 65,000 tonnes per annum.
“Our exports of bananas over the last six years have gone up from 4000 metric tonnes per annum to 65,000 tonnes per annum,” Ms Tetteh said on Metro TV’s programme Good Evening Ghana monitored by ghanabusinessnews.com August 11, 2011.
According to the World Bank’s 2001 estimates, Ghana needs to produce close to 60,000 tonnes of banana a year to make her banana industry sustainable and make an impact on the international market amid stiff competition from Latin America.
This means that the country now exceeds the World Bank’s estimates of not only banana production but also exportation.
The Minister noted that 90% of the bananas are exported to the European market, making it competitive with bananas coming from Latin America and other producing countries.
The increase is attributed to the fact that packaging materials, farm inputs, are brought into the country duty-free because they are registered as free zones board enterprises, she said.
A company becomes a free zones board enterprise if it exports 70% of its produce, according to the Ghana Free Zones Board Act established in 1995.
In 2007, Ghana rapidly expanded its exports, becoming the sixth largest Africa-Caribbean-Pacific (ACP) supplier.
By Emmanuel K. Dogbevi & Ekow Quandzie
This can be done, excellent for Ghana and as I always say proof to yourself it can be done and surely it can be done.
BRAVO!!
continue to expand more, and more as well as add value in processing as well. Build storage and preservation facilities to assist export of all fresh produce.
Ghana should learn from Brazil also their Alvocado plants, produce, they are big, nice and juicy. Can find them in Canada and elsewhere.