Centre develops chocolate, jam, from prekese

Bunso (Eastern Region) 26th January 2000 - The Centre for Biodiversity Utilisation and Development (CBUD) of the Institute of Renewable Natural Resources, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, has developed seven products from prekese, a local spice and medicinal plant.

The products include prekese chocolate, baby food, prekese brandy and jam.

Dr. Amoako Atta, CBUD co-ordinator, disclosed this at the opening of a three-day sub-project products development workshop at the Bunso Cocoa College on Tuesday.

The Royal Netherlands Embassy funds the project, under which snails, clam crabs and indigenous leafy vegetables are also being developed into various substances.

Participants at the workshop include researchers from the Universities, farmers and foresters, crops and animal specialists, marketing and processing specialists.

It is aimed, among others, to guide potential CBUD collaborating partners, actors, target groups, communities, individuals and farmers to formulate their sub-projects for the development of the products.

It would also enable CBUD to contribute to the conservation of the biological diversity for the research and promotion of the prekese, snail clams and crab and leafy vegetable products.

Dr Amoako Atta said the centre would soon supply young snails to large-scale snail farmers in Begoro, Kukurantumi and Bepoase in the Eastern region.