Huge production and yield gap for fruits & veg in Ghana says study
Presenting the findings of the study to stakeholders, the Minister of Food and Agriculture Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, in an address read on his behalf, noted that the industrial potential of many fruits and vegetables available in Ghana is enormous, hence the need to embark on a massive production of these fruits and vegetables, not only for their high nutritive value, but also for enhancing the establishment of many processing industries and the creation of jobs, the report said.
“The fruit and vegetable sector is important for the vitality of the Ghanaian economy. Horticultural crop production provides new and profitable sources of income for farmers,” Dr. Afriyie Akoto was quoted as saying in the report.
“Reduced fruit and vegetable intake is linked to poor health and an increased risk of non-communicable diseases (NCDs),” the FAO Representative to Ghana Dr. Abebe Haile was also cited as saying in the report.
The study, pointed out that the average citizen still does not consume the minimum daily requirement of 400g per day of fruit and vegetables necessary for good health. The general trend was that with advancing age, the consumption of fruits and vegetables increases.
source: ghanabusinessnews.com
