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Mango Farmers

Mango farmers told to prioritize value addition to earn more

Mango Farmers across the country have been charged to prioritize value addition to their produce in other to maximize the return on their investments. According to key stakeholders in the mango value chain in Ghana, the continuous export of mango in its raw state limits the potential earnings from the fruit.

Speaking at the 4th Ghana Mango Week Celebration organized by the Federation of Associations of Ghanaian Exporters here in Accra, the Convener of the National Mango Roundtable and the Vice President of the Federation of Association of Ghanaian Exporters, Majorie Quist Abdin challenged mango farmers to prioritize value addition of mango to make the fruit a key foreign exchange earner for Ghana.

“By adding value either at the farm gate or the nearest convenient location, farmers will be able to decrease post-harvest losses, maximize the optional use of the mango fruit, and prolong the shelf-life of the fruit. Value addition lessons the vulnerability of the mango farmers position at the negotiation table.”

The 4th Ghana Mango Week Celebration was on the theme “Mango – Ghana’s Green Gold. Opportunities in Value Addition”. For some mango farmers participating in the program, it is time for the government to pay better attention to mango.

Davies Korboe is 2009 National Best Farmer said: “I’ve always advocated that cocoa is not the lifeblood of this country. So the earlier we give mango full attention like cocoa the better.”

According to Noah Osabutey, the Vice-Chairman of the Ga-Adangbe Mango Farmers Association governments’ help will go a long way to boost mango farming.

“Cocoa farmers have got so many privileges, for example, chemical subsidies, benefits which mango farmers are not getting. Mango farmers have to buy every input that goes into their farms.”

Meanwhile, a Deputy Minister for Food and Agriculture Kennedy Nyarko Osei says government is ready to support the growth of the mango sector.

“We at the Ministry of Food and Agriculture are prepared to provide leadership and technical support to ensure the significant needed growth in the sector.”

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