The Akufo-Addo government has applauded HGL, a multi-grain agriculture estate comprising cultivation, cereal processing and agritourism describing it as a perfect example of the role the private sector can play to help achieve the ‘Ghana Beyond Aid’ agenda.
HGL, which was started in 2017, is an indigenous Ghanaian social business driven by social impact drawing more citizens into the production function of the country by stimulating employment for less-skilled persons in a sustainable manner.
The commendations were made on Monday when President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo inspected the multi-grain processing facility at Adaklu-Tsrefe, in the Adaklu District of the Volta Region.
The inspection was the President’s first point of call in his two-day working visit to the region.
Dubbed “Volta Trigger 1”, the project has rice mills and silos, all about 90% complete with “massive potential” to meet demands in the country and export.
The project comprised three sub businesses- cultivation, cereal processing, and agritourism, with the four metric tonnes per hour rice mill capable of processing about 20,000 metric tonnes of paddy rice per year in a two-shift cycle.
The company also has a 500-acre farm that serves as a demonstration farm to support the agro-processing and agritourism sub businesses.
The agritourism business is primarily to draw more Ghanaians, especially the middle class, into farming, as a cool, fun and viable investment option using a crowd farming model.
Under that initiative, the company will develop an Agric estate and encourage people to invest in identifiable farm lots per season just as they would invest in treasury bills, but with the harvests as a return.
The company has 300 out-growers, 1,500 farmhands on the out-grower farms, 10 input workers, 15 factory hands, 100 farmhands, 15 administrative and management officials and 10 sales officers for its “Gogo” rice from the demonstration farm.
Minister for Trade and Industry Mr. Alan Kyerematen, who accompanied the President said the facility was a testimony of the President’s belief in Ghanaian professionals and in line with the government’s “Ghana beyond aid” agenda.
“This is a perfect example of 1D1F and a testimony that Ghanaians can do it and we must celebrate HGL,” he said.
Deputy Minister for Food and Agriculture in charge of Annual Crops Dr. Sagre Bambangi described the facility as “phenomenal” and “touching on the very nerves of the President’s Ghana beyond aid agenda.”
He said Ghana’s consumption of rice was increasing and called for collaboration between HGL and his ministry and government to meet the growing demand.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of HGL Mr. Senyo Hosi, said the dream was to have similar projects in all districts across the country and make an impact on society and the Ghanaian economy.
He appealed to government for a “push” to access the EXIM Bank facility to achieve the dream.
The post Gov’t lauds HGL, says agric project fits into ‘Ghana Beyond Aid’ agenda appeared first on Citinewsroom - Comprehensive News in Ghana, Current Affairs, Business News , Headlines, Ghana Sports, Entertainment, Politics, Articles, Opinions, Viral Content.
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