FEMALE AGRIC EXTENSION OFFICERS ATTEND WORKSHOP (PAGE 21)

FIFTEEN participants, comprising eleven extension officers of the Women in Agriculture Development (WIAD) of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture and four processors in the Western Region, have attended a three-day training of trainers workshop in plantain processing and utilisation in Takoradi.
The participants were taken through market requirements of a good food processor, hygiene in food processing, maintaining standard for processed products—storage, packaging and labelling, exhibition of products and practical demonstrations.
The training programme became possible as a result of the effective implementation of the Plantain and Banana Project, which is intended to be used for the transfer of processing technologies for plantain and banana in the project operation zones.
Gatsby, a charitable foundation seeking among other things to alleviate poverty in the rural areas through the provision of micro credits, funded the project.
The Plantain and Banana Project, which ended in 2002, introduced the black sigatoga resistant hybrid varieties of banana and plantain into six regions in the country.
The regions are Eastern, Ashanti, Brong Ahafo, Volta, Western and Central while Eastern, Ashanti and Brong Ahafo Regions were subsequently selected for a three-year pilot project on ‘processing and utilisation of banana and plantain varieties’, which started in October, 2004.
In 2007, a consultative workshop brainstormed for products to be developed at the farm gate considering the expected increase in production.
Processing plantain into flour and using the flour in recipes appeared to be the best preservation option.
It is expected that 20 plantain-growing communities with at least 50 farmers each, would receive training through the extension officers of the Women in Agriculture Development in collaboration with the Food Research Institute (FRI) of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research.
At the workshop, the officer in charge of the Value Addition Unit of the Women in Agriculture Development of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Rev. (Mrs) Nyuieme Adiepena, said before plantain flour could be promoted, there was the need for the public to know its nutritional importance.
She said plantain provided adequate amounts of vitamins such as vitamin ‘A’ and served as a good source of energy.
She stated that plantain contained high amounts of potassium with low sodium contents which helped in the prevention of hypertension and was also a rich source of iron which was needed in the formation of haemoglobin.
Rev. Adiepena suggested the establishment of plantain processing centres in all districts in the region through the lobbying of their respective district assemblies for support.
“Sell the idea to them, let them understand you and appreciate the importance of the project,” she advised the participants.
The Western Regional Director of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Mr David Okine, noted that training and transferring of technology was easy but the adoption of such technology was very important.
He said his outfit would provide the required information for the improvement of plantain processing in the region.