Soya, shea, beans can solve unemployment in the North - GEPC

Tamale, Sept. 22, GNA - Unemployment situation in the Northern Region can be addressed through the development of shea, soya, beans, mangoes, chillies pepper and yam, Mr Seidu Saaka Bakari, Zonal Officer, Ghana Export Promotion Council (GEPC), has observed.

He said these commodities which are widely cultivated in the Region could help to enhance the promotion of non traditional export. He was speaking at the opening of a workshop on best practices in export on Thursday in Tamale.

Mr Bakari explained that the export of these commodities would contribute to wealth creation and reduce abject poverty as well as add to the nation’s foreign exchange earnings.

About 60 farmers and entrepreneurs in the Northern Region are participating in the two-day training budded: “The Export Promotion Council Export School” is being organized by the Ghana Export Promotion Council (GEPC).

It is aimed at creating export market awareness among the business community of the Northern Region and exposed participants to potentials in their respective fields as well as guide them on how to develop such products for export.

Mr Bakari said the vast arable land in the north could feed the whole country over a decade if well utilized, saying “The land is suitable for the cultivation of crops and livestock including groundnuts, soya, mango, yam, millet maize, corn, beans, tomatoes, sheep, goats and cows”.

He said export played a critical role in the nation’s Gross Domestic Product, hence the need to develop non-traditional export and called for investment in the production of these commodities.

Mr Samuel Brew, Resource Personnel from GEPC, explained that the program sought to address the international trade-training needs of export trade development businesses and personnel within the export product chain system.

Participants will be schooled in export marketing procedures and documentations, good agriculture practices and post-harvest management, and handling of agriculture products for export.

Other topics are costing and pricing for export, multi-modal transport and logistics handling, requirement of standards for export and export financing.