First export of exotic mangoes to EU

Tafi-Abuife (V/R), Sept. 4, GNA - The Kingdom Fruits Farms (KFF) at Tafi-Abuife in the Hohoe District has exported its first consignment of 23 tonnes of exotic mangoes to the European market.

Mr Felix Semevor, Managing Director of the Farms, who disclosed this to a delegation from the Hohoe District Assembly on a tour of the Farms said feedback on the quality of the fruits had been confirmed to be excellent, opening avenues for real business.

He said the feat materialized under the close collaboration of management, the Hohoe District Assembly, the Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) and the Volta Integrated Agriculture Development. Mr Semevor said currently the Farms had a 1,000-acre mango plantation, inter-cropped with one million plantlets of pineapples and an expected three million target would be achieved by the end of the year. He additionally said its passion fruits and pawpaw, which had shown enormous potential after the pilot phase, would be commercially pursued to meet the local and international demands.

The Managing Director said plans were afoot to procure a fruit processing plant to enhance the shelf life of the produce. Mr Semevor appealed to the Hohoe District Assembly to upgrade the electricity power to a three-phase point to facilitate production. He said the Farms' social responsibilities, apart from employing about 350 youth from the area, would also include the provision of potable water and the establishment of a private Senior Secondary School. Mr Semevor urged farmers in the area to venture into fruits farming and pledged to provide seeds for cultivation.

Mr John Peter Amewu, District Chief Executive, said government was committed to assisting the private sector towards realising the needed rapid growth and development of the economy and pledged to support such ventures to flourish.

He entreated the populace to perceive agriculture as a serious business and not as a job for the poor in society. Togbe Kasu III, Chief of Tafi-Abuife pledged his people's support to government's development efforts and assured investors of the availability of large tracts of land for development.