- Trade Minister Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare reaffirms commitment to rural industrialisation
- Government developing policy to incentivise agro-industries in rural areas
- Cashew processing used as a case for cost-effective local operations
Minister for Trade, Agribusiness, and Industry, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, has reaffirmed the government’s strong focus on rural industrialisation as a key strategy to reduce production costs and boost employment in agribusiness communities.
Speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show on Friday, August 1, the minister outlined key outcomes from the recent National Agribusiness Dialogue held on July 28. She revealed that the government is drafting a new policy framework that will offer incentives to businesses establishing agro-industries in rural areas.
“We’re looking to provide incentives for businesses that choose to site their operations in rural areas. This will help lower production costs and reduce post-harvest waste,” she stated.
Ofosu-Adjare emphasized that locating agro-processing facilities closer to raw material sources would not only cut transportation expenses but also create jobs locally.
“For example, if you’re processing cashew nuts, setting up a factory in Techiman North—where the raw material is grown—is more cost-effective than transporting everything to Accra,” she explained.
She stressed that reducing logistical costs would help lower overall production expenses, making agribusiness ventures more profitable and sustainable.
The minister also highlighted the importance of expanding job opportunities across the agribusiness value chain, especially for young people who may not be interested in traditional farming.
“We want to ensure that our youth benefit from other aspects of agribusiness, such as processing and logistics,” she said.
As for the nature of the incentives, Ofosu-Adjare indicated that details were still being finalised, but confirmed that machinery import waivers for agro-processing firms were under serious consideration.
“At the end of the policy development, we expect a well-defined incentive package. The President has already mentioned waivers on agro-processing machinery, and this will likely be finalised in consultation with the Finance Ministry,” she noted.
