Wa, Oct 3, GNA - The Venture Capital Trust Fund, in collaboration with Techno Serve, has presented six tractors and their implements and eight thrashers which together cost GH¢164,000 to seven nucleus farmers in the Upper West Region. The farm equipment which would be repaid within three years, are to boost the production of sorghum for supply to the Guinness Ghana Breweries Limited.

Speaking at the presentation ceremony Mr Stephen Mwinkaara, Project Manager of the West African Sorghum Project, said over 3,000 farmers had been assisted to produce and supply 2,200 metric tonnes of sorghum to the breweries since the project began in 2006. Mr Mwinkaara said the sorghum industry has continued to provide over 500 temporary and seasonal jobs in the supply chain. Nana Osei-Bonsu, Chief Executive Officer of the Capital Venture Fund, said with the procurement of the tractors for the farmers their next action would be to construct suitable warehouses for the crop in production areas.

He said the Fund initially spent GH¢400,000 to assist in the development of sorghum in the region and within two and half years, GH¢2.1 million was made available to the farmers as credit, he added. Mr George Hikah Benson, Upper West Regional Minister who received the keys to the tractors, thanked Techno Serve and its partners for just initiatives in the region. Mr Benson observed that many people in the Region were joining the Sorghum Value chain daily and urged Guinness Ghana Limited to do more for the people by developing some infrastructure in the Region. 03 Oct 08