Agriculture Information Centre Commissioned in Sekondi

Sekondi, May 6, GNA- Mr Philip Kwesi Nkrumah, Shama-Ahanta East Metropolitan Chief Executive, on Thursday commissioned the Metropolitan Agricultural Information Centre and E-Commerce for Non-Traditional Exports Project in Sekondi.

He said the centre was as a result of cooperation between between the Metropolitan Assembly and Ministry of Food and Agriculture to provide farmers, fishermen, agro-processors, businessmen and women with information that they required for their operations.

Mr Nkrumah said some of the biggest problems facing farmers in the Metropolis are lack of ready market for their produce and the unfavourable prices for their produce.

He said producers of non-traditional export commodities have had little or no reliable information about potential markets and prices for their produce and this has resulted in the use of non-existent markets. Mr Nkrumah said this has also resulted in their reliance on middlemen who appeared to be driving most of the profits that should have been accruing to the farmers.

He said the centre would also establish more cost-effective communication methods to make producers of non-traditional export commodities increase their exports and assist small-scale producers and exporters to raise their living standard.

He said the activities of the centre are in support of the government's policy of empowering the citizenry through relevant information available to them and facilitate the private sector to play its role as an engine of growth of the economy.

He called for close interaction among farmers, fishermen, processors, exporters and officers of the Metropolitan Agricultural Development Unit to enable exporters to satisfy other relevant requirements.

Mr Nkrumah thanked the International Institute for Communication and Development (IICD) of The Netherlands, for funding the E-Commerce. 6 May 04