EDAIF calls for more patronage
The Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Export Development and Agricultural Investment Fund (EDAIF), Professor Francis Duodu, has asked persons, groups and institutions in the Central Region to take advantage of its facilities to boost their businesses.
EDAIF supports persons, groups and institutions in the development and promotion of agriculture and agro-processing products and the provision of services in the agriculture and agro-processing sector.
It operates in capacity building, development of infrastructure and common use facilities for the agro-processing and agro-processing industry.
It also operates in the development and promotion of other agricultural and agro-processing entrepreneurial activities and agriculture and agri-business trade oriented activities of both public and private institutions.
Professor Duodu said EDAIF helped groups to also identify their source of raw materials and to get products to the processor.
He said EDAIF had supported a number of farmers, groups and institutions in the region and called on research institutions to find solutions to challenges facing those in the agro-processing and agri-business sectors.
Professor Duodu said farmers who dealt in perishable items, such as tomatoes and oranges, faced glut and price fluctuations each year, adding that EDAIF had stepped in to save them from their frustrations.
He said EDAIF had supported the SALLET Foundation to attend a fashion fair in Miami, USA, and through that it had now started receiving orders for its products from fashion business enterprises in that country.
The Chief Executive Officer of EDAIF, Dr Abdul Nashiru, said the fund gave grants to beneficiaries through approved banks after receiving applications.
He said the fund had intensified its monitoring and evaluation to ensure that beneficiaries used what they obtained for its purpose.
During interaction with participants most of them expressed concern at the lack of a ready market for their products and urged EDAIF to assist them to address that challenge.
Story: Joe Okyere, Cape Coast