Orange Growers Association launch Ashanti Region Chapter
Orange growers in Ghana's Ashanti region can now breathe a sigh of relief following the inauguration of the highly anticipated Ashanti Region Chapter of the Orange Growers Association (OGA), supported by partner companies Eastfield Farms, ANKAA Tropical Oranges, and Citriville.
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Approximately two hundred orange growers from various parts of the region participated in the event held at the Wesley Methodist Church Conference Hall in Juaben Municipality on Tuesday.
Delivering the keynote address on behalf of the Paramount Chief of Juaben Traditional Area and Chairman of the Council of State, Nana Otumfuo Siribuo II, the Apegyahene of Juaben, Nana Osei Busumuru, praised the management of the Orange Growers Association (OGA) for their initiative, especially at a time when many orange growers are facing challenges such as post-harvest losses. Nana Apegyahene urged orange growers to fully embrace the association and encourage their colleagues to join for their collective benefit.
He also expressed Juaben's eagerness and readiness to host the Ashanti Region Office of the Orange Growers Association (OGA), highlighting that Juaben is home to some of the nation's best farmers.
In his remarks, President of the Orange Growers Association (OGA), Nana Yaw Baffour Frimpong, emphasized the association's unwavering commitment to its members, including providing ready markets for their produce, farm inputs and implements, training, and other support throughout the supply chain.
Municipal Director of Agriculture, Alex K. Adu Gyamfi, called on the government to incorporate oranges into its flagship agricultural programs, citing the economic benefits associated with oranges. Mr. Gyamfi encouraged parents to ensure that their children bring oranges to school to develop a taste for them, boosting their vitamin C intake for improved well-being.
Other speakers included Papa Yaw Ntiforo of Eastfield Farms, Malcolm Senanu of ANKAA Tropical Oranges, Theodore Kloba of Citriville, Freeman Adomako of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), Nana Biribireba Boateng, and other stakeholders.
The farmers received training in Good Agricultural Practices in Citrus Orchards from a team of experts led by Dr. Andrews Opoku from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).
The orange growers engaged in discussions with the experts, asking questions and expressing their gratitude to the management of the Orange Growers Association (OGA) for providing much-needed relief.
It is noteworthy that the Orange Growers Association (OGA) and its partners are behind initiatives such as "One Student, One Orange" (Orange Wednesday), "Grow to Consume," and other corporate social responsibility activities for schools.