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Palm kernel industry facing extinction
Kwesiministim (W/R), Feb. 18,
Ghanadot/GNA – Palm kernel oil
producers at Kwesiministim and Effiakuma have expressed the
fear that their business might collapse if steps were not
taken to salvage the industry.
They said the sector lacks capital and the excessive
importation of cheap edible oil was killing the industry,
forcing many young people to abandon the once booming
business.
Madam Joyce Bong-Abo, a spokesperson for the group, told the
GNA in an interview that many people she started the
business with over 20 years ago had abandoned it due to old
age.
She about 50 of them used to engage actively in the business
but now only 20 people are involved in the daily production
of palm kernel oil.
Madam Bong-Abo said a new entrant into the business would
need a start up capital of between 500 and 700 Ghana cedis
and this is difficult to get.
Palm kernel oil is used in food preparation, soap making and
as a medicinal product. Palm kernel shells are used as dust
palliative on unpaved roads, while the palm kernel cake is
used as a food supplement in feeds for diary animals and
pigs.
She said another major challenge was their source of raw
material - palm kernel.
“We have to move from house to house within the metropolis
and buy palm kernel from households before we transport them
to our business location for processing.”
Madam Bong-Abo said apart from the nut-cracking machine that
they bought over five years ago most of the entire
processing is done manually.
Also, their reliance on firewood and earthen fire place
popularly known as "mukyia" was a major drain on their
finances.
She said their major clients were soap manufacturers, senior
high schools with boarding facilities, primary schools
engaged in the school feeding programme and fried fish
sellers.
Madam Bong-Abo said their business usually slowed down when
schools vacate and during the lean fishing season and
“during such occasions our products must sit idle till we
can find markets.”
Mr. Tony Moses, Budget officer of the Sekondi/Takoradi
Metropolitan Assembly, said there were some investment funds
that must be distributed to SMEs in the metropolis but these
could only be given to associations.
He said though the assembly in 2008 registered over 400 SMEs
most did not qualify due to the criteria attached.
Mr. Moses said programmes would be conducted for the SMEs on
marketing and accessing credit to enable them to expand
their businesses.
He said the Urban Poverty Project targets SMEs that has
staff strength of more than five and that it would be
difficult for micro firms to benefit from the project.
GNA
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