Akatsi (V/R), April 18, GNA - The "atsitoe" crop (velvet tamarind), a type of black berries collected from trees growing in the wild in and around the Avenor area, has become the highest revenue earner for the Akatsi District.
Statistics have shown that the fruits of velvet tamarind, which are eaten, generate revenue of four billion cedis annually. Mr Anthony Kofi Abledu, the Akatsi District Chief Executive, said this in his address at the fifth Atsitoe Festival held at Akatsi at the weekend.
He said atsitoe trees are mostly private holdings and are scattered over 250 square kilometres with an average yield of 40 kilogrames per tree.
Mr Abledu said during the crop has become the economic backbone of the district and called for collaboration with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and other development agencies to conduct research into the conservation, management and marketing of the crop.
The Director-General of CSIR, Prof Emmanuel Owusu-Bennoah, said indigenous fruits are fond to contain high concentration of essential nutrients such as calcium, iron and phosphorus than cultivated fruits. He said domestication and unitisation of lesser-known fruit trees should be placed high on the national agenda to avoid genetic erosion land extinction due to human activities and natural disasters. Prof Owusu-Bennoah said domesticating of fruit trees is important to ensure food security, income generation and poverty alleviation.
The Fiaga of Avenor, Togbui Dorglo-Anuma expressed concern over the deplorable roads in the Avenor area and appealed to the government to do something about it.
Torgbui Agblah, Dufia of Dzogadze, appealed to chiefs and opinion leaders not to compromise their unique role as custodians of the land and to uphold the rich traditions of the people.
Regent Togbui Sri 111 said in an address read for him that two members of the Anlo Traditional Council had been sent on sponsored trips to Israel and the UK to sign pacts with investors to exploit business opportunities in the Avenor area as well as Anlo.
He said he was awaiting the outcome of negotiation between Avenor chiefs and the district administration for the release of land to establish ICT training centre for the youth.
