Browsing by Author "Dogbatse, Emmanuel Kofi"

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    Tomato Processing Factory - Akomadan
    (1996) Dogbatse, Emmanuel Kofi
    Tomato is cultivated throughout Ghana and it constitutes one of the most important fruits in the diet of all Ghanaians. Its supply is seasonal and prices fluctuate by as much as a factor of 100% because most of the farmers depend on rain fed agriculture. Also, due to its perishability, the excess cannot be stored or preserved over longer period to arrest this situation of seasonal supply. In view of this, tomato puree is imported into the country to supplement the fresh tomato market supply. This is a drain on the country’s economy. In the early 60s the then Kwame Nkrumah government tried to address this problem by establishing two tomato cannaries. One in the northern part of the country and the other in the Brong Ahafo region but these projects failed right from inception due to the poor management policies of state owned enterprises of the day. The current trade liberalisation programme under the economic recovery programme encouraging private sector enterprises to invest in the industrial sector as well as the agricultural sector is aimed at solving some of the problems this government enterprise face. This economic recovery programme is to address the decline in output in the agricultural sector, state and quasi-governmental business and the private sector enterprises in order to cure the economic malaise. As part of the objectives of this programme, some incentives are provided for both farmers and private investors. Interested investors are exempted from taxes in the areas of raw-materials and equipment for construction and manufacturing purposes. In view of the above programme, the client (ELMAKO LTD) in collaboration with ministry of food and agriculture are considering of putting up this factory to exploit the under utilised resources at Akomadan (a major tomato producing area). 1. This project will also create job opportunities to the rural people preventing ruralurban drift and its associated problems. 2. It will serve as a source of income for the irrigation department. 3. Improve the living standard of the people of Akomadan.