Awutu Bawjiase (C/R), April 18, GNA - A pineapple factory that can process over 70 tones of pineapple daily would start operation in August at Ekumfi Essuahyia in the Central Region.

Pineapple farmers in the area have to spend weeks along the main Cape Coast-Winneba-Kasoa trunk road and in some big markets in the area to market their produce, resulting large quantities of the product getting rotten.

Mr Nathaniel Welbeck, Executive Director of the Company, said this at a pineapple farmers' meeting at Awutu Bawjiase.

Mr Welbeck expressed the hope that the farmers would take advantage of the establishment of the company to expand their farms. He urged the youth to get involved in pineapple production to earn more revenue to help reduce poverty.

Mr Emmanuel Carr, Chairman of the Awutu-Effutu-Senya Pineapple Farmers Co-operative Society, thanked Mr Welbeck and expressed the hope that the factory would offer a good price for their product to encourage them to sell to the factory.