Participants in a group photograph
The IAST therefore held a two-day training workshop in the Eastern Region where it is estimated that about 80% of Ghana’s total annual palm oil output is produced by grassroots artisanal palm oil producers with a significant number located in the Kwaebibirim District.
Budu Amoako of Budu Consult in a welcome statement
In a welcome address, Mr. Budu Amoako who is the Chief Executive Officer of Budu Consult (a palm oil processing company), mentioned the prospects of the palm oil production in Ghana and how far this can empower farmers economically when taken seriously. He bemoaned the factors such as the addition of Sudan IV dye to palm oil which has caused the collapse of the oil palm industry and urged famers to desist from its usage and take the lessons from the training seriously so as to enhance the palm oil industry.
Prof. Onwona-Agyeman, Ag. Dir., IAST addressing the gathering
The Acting Director of the Institute of Applied Science and Technology (IAST), Prof. Boateng Onwona-Agyeman in his statement explained that the training was initiated due to the recent emergence of the use of Sudan IV dye in the oil palm industry. He stated that it was important for the participants to be exposed to the consequences of adding Sudan IV dye to palm oil both at the international and national level and also deepen their knowledge on factors that affect palm oil quality.
Mr. Kwakye delivering his speech
Mr. Kwakye, from the Koforidua branch of the Food and Drugs Authority thanked organizers of the training workshop for such an initiative and encouraged the participants to ensure that they benefit fully from the training and make it reflect in their work. He emphasized in his speech the need to process palm oil rightly, irrespective of whether it will be exported or consumed locally.
Osabarima Sarpong Kumankuma II , Chief of Akyem Abodom addressing participants
The Chief of Akyem Abodom, Osabarima Sarpong Kumankuma II, in his briefing suggested the inclusion of government policy makers in such training programmes and the establishment of a palm oil marketing board like the cocoa marketing board. He called on the government to support the oil palm production industry and challenged the Institute of Applied Science and Technology to spearhead the formulation of policies for the oil palm industry. Regarding the issue of loans to the farmers, the Chief appealed to banks to speed up with loan application processes to ensure that the farmers get the loans at the right time of the season of crop production.
Presentations at the Training
Discussion on Palm oil Colour and Packaging
A Section of the Participants
A Participant Asking a Question
The multidisciplinary team also imparted the participants with knowledge and skills targeted at improving the quality of palm oil production from the critical stages of preprocessing, processing and post processing operations. The training also highlighted the importance of improving the entrepreneurial acumen of the participants.
Participants observing the boiling process of the boiled palm nut fruits
Pouring of the boiled palm nut fruit into the combined milling and pressing machine
Pressing Machine
Residue of the palm nut fruits after pressing
Presentation of Certificates
The team comprised of Prof. Ofosu-Budu, Principal Investigator, from the Forest and Horticultural Crops Research Centre (FOHCREC) at Kade, Prof. Tano-Debrah from the Department of Nutrition and Food Science, Dr. Ofori from the Institute for Environment and Sanitation Studies and Mr. Budu – Amoako, a medium scale palm oil producer.
The training brought together local producers from Kwaebibirim and a representative group from the Sekyire palm oil production community, a model production site at Akyem, Abodom.
