The government has earmarked seven billion cedis to assist pineapple growers in the Ekumfi Traditional Area to establish a pineapple processing factory before the end of the year.

The farmers, numbering over 700, have formed a co-operative society for various pineapple producing communities and have agreed to contribute a minimum of 50,000 cedis each to raise 1.5 billion cedis to supplement the government's efforts.

Nana Obrenu IV, Chairman of the Ekumfiman Rural Bank's Board of Directors and head of the proposed Ekumfi Pineapple Processing Company Planning Committee, said this at an emergency meeting of the committee at Ekumfi-Essuehuyia.

Nana Obrenu told the growers that it would be better for them to take the initiative to establish their own company.

He said the time had come for farmers and other self-employed groups in the area to take advantage of the various President Special Initiatives (PSIs) to open up the area and attract more financial assistance from the government and donors.