Business News of Sunday, 1 September 2013

Source: GNA

‘Flowers, gardening are viable source of income’

Ms Esther Cobbah, Chief Executive Officer, Strategic Communication (StratComm) Africa, has called on Ghanaians especially the unemployed to venture into flower growing and gardening as they could serve as a major source of income.

She noted that Ghana had all the requisite resources such as the soil, water, plants and seedlings, which could be utilised for the cultivation of flowers and gardening.

Ms Cobbah said this during a workshop and exhibition of flowers and gardening in Accra on Saturday.

She noted that African countries such as South Africa had already taken the lead in the exportation of flowers, adding that, Ghana could also do same.

“It’s sad to note that while other African countries are exporting flowers, we (Ghana) are rather importing them when we could have grown them on our own”, she added.

The Garden and Flower Show, which was the first of its kind to be organised by StratComm, was designed to create awareness about the commercial and psychological benefits of flowers and gardens.

The event, which was under the theme “Sustainable Gardening in Ghana” was also aimed at starting a gardening movement in Ghana as it would serve as a launch pad for a full programme at establishing the culture of gardening in the country.

Participants at the workshop and exhibition included florists, horticulturalists, home makers, real estate developers, landscape designers, pot makers, carvers, subsistence farmers among others.

On exhibition were different species of flowers, fruits, sculptures, flowers pots, garden furniture, landscape designs and compost among others.