The Ministry of Trade and Industry is expecting about $532,230(?45 billion) as a grant from the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) to help the metals and engineering industries in the country.

The amount would be specifically disbursed to assist artisans forming the Technology Consultancy Centre at Suame in Kumasi and Gratis Foundation atTema to upgrade and deliver designed production and maintenance services, for precision products, spare parts, and for advice on industrial technology transfer.

A source close to the ministry told the Chronicle that, if the monies arrive, artisans in the metal industry at Kokompe in Accra and Suame Magazine would benefit tremendously.

He explained that when the artisans attempt to manufacture agricultural machines, they face difficulties in making some of the components causing them to import these components - which are very expensive.

Another source told the reporter that UNIDO has provided a grant of US$1.0million (?8.5 billion) for the provision of agricultural services through the upgrading of a foundry and other production facilities at Suame Foundry and the Intermediate Technology Transfer Unit (ITTU) at Tema.

This would involve the production of simple and affordable agricultural implements for Ghanaian farmers.

He said most of the artisans have the idea of how to manufacture refinery machines, but they do not have the basic tools for manufacturing stainless steel products so they are compelled to use metal scraps.

He said this problem has resulted in some of the machines being inefficient, a typical example being the production of fruit juice; when the machines are squeezing out the juice from the fruits a lot of the juice is left in the waste materials making the producers lose heavily.

He said in bumper harvests most of the foods go waste, since most of the farmers lack machines to transform the foods from their raw state into a finished state in order to add value to and preserve the food.

He cited an example as cassava, which could be transformed into powdered cassava in order to preserve it.

According to the source, with the availability of the money, artisans could be facilitated and regulate the production of standardized machinery, equipment and tools as well replacement of parts and components to boost farm gate processing.

Also he said artisans could export some of the tools to bring in foreign exchange and also cut down on cost and reliance on other countries.