Volta Region holds trade exhibition

Ho, Oct 27, GNA- GRATIS Foundation has initiated moves to help local oil-palm producers in the Volta Region to change over from pressing palm fruits in dug-outs with their feet to using a micro palm fruit digester. The digester, which is capable of processing five tonnes of palm fruits per hour, costs 2.5 million cedis.

Mr Gershon Asempapa, a technician with the Gratis Foundation, said this in an interview with the Ghana News Agency on the first day of a trade exhibition in Ho dubbed Voltaxpo'4 on Wednesday.

He said teams from the Foundation have visited some communities known for producing palm oil in the region to educate them on benefits of switching over to the appropriate technology.

Mr Asempapa said the Foundation had installed the digesters for a cooperative group at Adaklu-Helekpe, while eight more communities had expressed interest.

Other micro type machinery on display at the Foundations stand was an Integrated Rice Mill and a Motorized Cassava Slicer. Mr Asempapa said the rice mill reduces breakage during milling and represented the Foundation's contribution to improving the quality of local rice.

The 12-day fair is expected to attract about 100 exhibitors. Tentra Company, Feedmillers and Distributors of Poultry products and Gentrac Ventures an Accra based hire purchase company sponsored it. Mr Micah Tulevo, Executive Director of Mic-D Ventures, organizers of the Fair said the main aim was to raise awareness of business opportunities in the Volta Region.

He said the exposure and contacts some business concerns made during a similar fair last year resulted in a boost in their sales.