A modern Agricultural Business Centre to provide essential services including drying, cleaning and storage of grains and other farm products has been inaugurated at Bonyon in the Ejura-Sekyedumase District.

The objective of the Centre is to enhance the marketing of grains and help facilitate the value chain development of staple food crops.

Funding for the Centre came from the United States Government under its Millennium Challenge Account (MCA), with support from some private investors.

Mr Martin Eson-Benjamin, Chief Executive Officer of the Millennium Development Authority (MiDA), said the project was part of an intervention to tackle the high post-harvest losses.

He said two additional facilities are being constructed in the district which is known for its maize and grains production.

He expressed the hope that those in charge of the management of the facility would work with other stakeholders, particularly farm-based organizations (FBOs) in the value chain to enable farmers to meet production targets.

Mr Eson-Benjamin said the Centre would also provide opportunities to generate revenue from services and activities offered to FBOs.

He said such opportunities would include extension and technical assistance to farmers, soil analysis and recommendations on fertilization programmes, land preparation services and sale of farm inputs on cash or credit to farmers.

He said given the enormous resources that went into the construction of the Centre, MiDA would see to it that it is run efficiently for the benefit of farmers.

Dr Kwaku Agyemang-Mensah, the Ashanti Regional Minister, said the establishment of the centre would go a long way to increase crop yield and ensure food security.

He said owing to the district’s strategic importance as major food supplier, it is important to train and help farmers to adopt good farming practices.**