Agro-Processing Company in Akuapem Build Huge Raw Material Base 

Akuapem Gold Agro-Processing Company Limited (AGAPCo), an avocado processing entity formed under the one district, one factory (1D1F) initiative, has hinted at the huge investment made into its raw material to ensure security in the raw material base when full production begins.
 
The management of the company stated that for every processing factory to stand the test of time, a key component in that loop is the availability of raw materials in excess to ensure constant quantity supply for production.

"To ensure that Akuapem Gold is not caught up in this web, management has invested heavily in avocado farming to ensure regular and all-year-round production".

"About 28,000 acres of land secured for raw material production, adding that about 600 acres are fully cultivated in the Amotare, a farming community at Begoro, the District capital of Fanteakwa North, in the Eastern Region."

Moreover, "several other outsourced growers are on board, and management is convinced that raw material would be in abundance to feed the factory when production begins".
 
“We have a vast land area already under cultivation. Usually avocado takes three to five years to start fruiting but the best agronomic practices we have put in place coupled with the ‘Hass’ variety acquired from Kenya, has made it possible for us to start fruiting in less than two years and this is an indication of the good investments we made here''.

Chairman of Akuapem Gold Agro-Processing, Albert Kwame Wilson said, "we also have a nursery that can feed about 1000 acres of land, so if we overcome the little land litigation challenges that we are having with some of our lands, then we can develop some extra 5,000 acres of land and offer another 15,000 acres to out-growers,” 

Furthermore, he added that technical expertise is the most important requirement to embark on such a business venture, and the company has some of the best human resources in that sector in the country on board to manage operations.
 
The company, which is geared toward the industrial production of avocado oil for export and domestic consumption has an installed capacity for processing 110,000 tonnes of avocado seed per day for oil production and 13,000 tonnes per day capacity for sorting seed size.

300-400 metric tonnes of avocado fruit packaging per day for export is also part of its production.

Beyond the production of avocado oil and fresh fruits export, AGAPCo’s production line also includes butter, avocado drinks, animal feed, and medicinal product, among others.

Akuapem Gold Agro-Processing Company builds a huge raw material base to secure business sustainability.

The Chairman of AGAPCo, again indicated that all is set for production to commence except for electricity connectivity which they are currently facing some challenges and hope it is addressed soon for production to start in September 2021.

Lastly, he emphasized that plans are also in place to bring on board the women in terms of harvesting the Avocado fruits on maturity, looking at the size of the plantation being developed over the Begoro growing field.

William Ofori Akwaboa, Eastern Regional Correspondent