A Mango Fruit Factory being built at Mentukwa in the Offinso North District to give jobs to the people and boost the local economy is nearing completion.
It is a joint venture between the Kwame Nkrumah of Science and Technology (KNUST), the community, the mango farmers association and Knights Group, an NGO, and would be processing mangoes into fruit juice, syrup and other products.
Professor Richard Akromah, Provost of the University’s College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, said a team of engineers from the Czech Republic would be arriving in the country this month to install and test run the production plant.
They would additionally train food and beverage engineers – the core staff to run the factory.
He broke the news at the 51st congregation of the University in Kumasi.
He indicated that the factory would create ready market for farmers and tremendously boost mango production.
Prof Akromah said he was confident that “it will become the country’s first factory to be inaugurated under the one district, one factory programme”.
A total of 606 students, made up of 402 males and 204 females, graduated and were awarded Bachelor of Science degrees. Fifty-eight (58) of them had first class honours.
Prof Akromah outlined plans by the College to expand its 25 acre-land at the Anwomaso Research Station to enhance practical training programmes for students.
He also touched on the significant progress it was making in its “edible palm larvae project”.
It is a partnership with ASPIRE Food Group in Canada to produce the larvae, locally known as “akokono”, a delicacy for many, on large scale for commercial purposes to generate revenue for the College.
Prof Akromah said the Group was working with the Food and Science Department of the KNUST on the preparation of pastries and other dishes that would contain the larvae as a component.
Mr. Osei Asafo-Adjei, Chief Executive of the Royal Bank, advised the fresh graduates to adopt positive work attitudes – hard working, punctual and diligent in any assigned task.
He also encouraged them to constantly upgrade themselves to efficiently perform.
