Kumasi, Aug 27, GNA - The Citrus Growers and Marketers Association of Ghana is initiating measures to secure a ready market for the produce of its members.

The association is currently facilitating the establishment of a juice processing and manufacturing factory at Asamankese in the Eastern Region to enhance the business of its members. Mr. Kwadwo Appiah Amankwah, National President of the association, made this known at a meeting of the Ashanti Regional branch of the association in Kumasi on Friday.

The meeting coincided with the election of a five-member interim executive of the branch.

Reverend F.B.C. Agyei was elected as chairman with Mr Akuoko Nyantakyi, as vice-chairman. Agya Kwasi Prah was elected secretary, while Mr T.F. Asare and Mr. Da Costa Ofori-Amanfo were elected as treasurer and organiser respectively.

Mr Amankwaah said the company, Valley Fields Juice Limited, owned by some German investors, when become operational, would offer support to members of the association to maintain their farms. An insecticide nets would also be provided to the farmers to hang on their farms to prevent insects from destroying their produce.

Mr. Amankwaah said the association with the support from the company would soon embark on a nationwide exercise to collate data from all citrus growers in the country to enable the company ascertain the quantity of oranges that it could obtain to feed the factory. He said after the exercise the association would then sign an agreement with the company to enable interested members to sell their produce to it.

Mr Amankwaah indicated that the company had agreed to supply the association with tractors to enable members cart their produce from their farms to the marketing depots which would be established in some designated districts.

He called for stronger unity among members to enable them to promote their interest and welfare, stressing that with greater unity, the association would be able to negotiate and determine the price per kilogram of their produce.

Rev Agyei thanked members for the confidence reposed in the new executive and pledged to work hard to promote the interest and welfare of the members. Aug. 27 05