Women in palm oil business at Tafi Dekpor cry for help

Producers of palm oil at Tafi Dekpor, a farming community in the Afadzato South District of the Volta region, are calling on the government, individuals, and organisations to help them produce on a large scale.

The women said some help in the supply of machines, ready market and working on the deplorable nature of the road would increase and sustain their business and production.

Madam Vivian Akpene Aborvor, a palm oil producer and seller, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that lack of machines to pound the palm fruits as well as assist in the oil production affected large production of oil for the market.

She said the cost of palm fruits also affected the production adding that the palm oil had to be transported to the market before they were purchased because the deplorable nature of the road prevented buyers from coming to the community.

Madam Aborvor said the cost in transporting the oil to the market was also high because only motorbikes and tricycles could ply the deplorable roads and they charged exorbitant fares.

She said they currently sold a bottle of palm oil for GH¢17.00 in the market but GH¢15.00 when buyers came to the community.

Madam Aborvor also noted that they had to sell their produce at either Logba or Kpando markets, adding that an available market ready to purchase their products in large quantities would help them.

Mr Prosper Bedu, a farmer, noted that the sale of palm fruits in the community hinged on its availability, which in turn determined the prices at which they were sold to their client.

He said a paint rubber of palm fruits currently costs GH¢12.00 but could sometimes cost either GH¢10.00 or as low as GH¢5.00.

Checks by the GNA revealed that a Centre that was established to help the women in oil palm processing known as the “Comdeks Hatof Womens Oil Processing Centre” had become a white elephant.

Mr Agblewodea Lawson, Acting Headman of the Community, said the Centre was established in 2014 to help in oil palm processing by a non-governmental organisation led by one Samuel who hailed from Akatsi.

He said Samuel provided shelter, pots, and other materials to help in the processing with the hope of expanding future productions but unfortunately everything halted, and they also had not heard from him and the NGO.

Mr Agblewodea said they were currently in need of palm fruit pounding machines, processors as well as other equipment to help the production of palm oil.