GRi Business, Economics & Finance 31 – 10 - 2002

Ahanta West farmers select three crops varieties for export

Ghana Stock Exchange remains quiet

 

 

Ahanta West farmers select three crops varieties for export

 

Agona Nkwanta (Western Region) 31 October 2002- Farmers in the Ahanta West District have decided to develop 'birds eye pepper', cassava and okra for export. They announced this at a day's export awareness programme organised by the Ghana Export Promotion Council (GEPC) and the District Assembly at Agona Nkwanta on Wednesday.

 

The farmers said they chose the three crops because the district had comparative advantage in their cultivation. Speaking at the function, Sam Ayesu, Deputy Director of the GEPC, advised the farmers to work with the Ministry of Food and agriculture (MOFA) to achieve their objective.

 

He said the Council, in conjunction with the MOFA, would assist the farmers to set up nurseries for birds eye pepper. Ayesu said the country was exporting some 200 non-traditional products, and asked the District Assembly to provide marketing centres for the three additional products.

 

Ayesu said the export awareness programme had been held in ten districts and that it was meant to whip up farmers' interest in the export of non-traditional export products. Gerald Nyarko-Mensah, a director of GEPC in-charge of the General Promotion Division, called on district assemblies to support farmers in their areas to improve the cultivation of crops in which they have comparative advantage for export.

 

He said the Council would also make proposals for the development of non-traditional export crops selected by farmers. Kofi Essien, Western Regional Manager of the GEPC advised farmers, who want to export their produce to form associations.

 

This, he said, this would enable them to benefit from the Export Development and Investment Fund, which became operational in July 2001, as well as other credit facilities from the Ghana Commercial Bank, Agricultural Development Bank, Ecobank and non-financial institutions such as the EMPRETEC Foundation. Essien said recognisable groups engaged in export-oriented activities are better placed to benefit from the fund.

GRi…/

 

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Ghana Stock Exchange remains quiet

 

Accra (Greater Accra) 31 October 2002- The Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE) remained quiet on Tuesday with the main indices barely moving. The GSE All-Share Index, the main market indicator, inched up by only 0.66 points to close trading at 1,339.76 points from 1,339.10 points.

 

Change for the year was up at 40.15 per cent from 40.08 per cent while market capitalisation was up at 4,939.65 billion cedis from 4,930.35 billion cedis. Total shares traded increased to 109,900 from 9,500 shares.

 

In the broader market, there were two price changes. Guinness Ghana Limited (GGL) gained 10 cedis at 980 cedis and Unilever was up by two cedis at 4,314 cedis.

 

The following are the last prices of listed equities in cedis:

ABL                      380

AGC                     18,807

ALW                    3,800

BAT                      1,001

CFAO                  67

EIC                       4,526

FML                     1,690

GBL                      500

GCB                     3,510

GGL                     980                     +10

HFC                     955

MGL                     254

MLC                     270

MOGL                  19,721

PAF                      750

PBC                      390

PZ                        2,000

SCB                     28,000

SPPC                   387

SSB                     3,953

SWL                    285

UNIL                   4,314               +2

CMLT                 460

GRi…/

 

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