A basket exporting company at Bolgatanga, SPB Unicommun, said it lost 170 million cedis during the first half of this year due to the rejection of its products on the world market for poor finishing.

Speaking to the GNA, the Regional Representative of the company, Mr Francis Danso, said the shoddy baskets were burnt in Europe at an additional expense to the company.

He said the company was therefore organising seminars and workshops for local weavers in the major producing areas such as Zaare, Nyariga, Sumbrungu and Yikene to introduce them to new dyeing techniques and other innovations aimed at improving the quality of basketry to meet international market standards.

This is in addition to training programmes run by a number of NGOs to help the weavers improve on the quality of their products.

Mr Danso suggested the establishment of craft villages in the district to give formal training in basketry to the youth.

He also appealed to the district assembly to assist the weavers under its poverty alleviation fund to enable them to expand and improve on their work