Ho,Ghana Oct 27, (GNA)- GRATIS Foundation has initiated moves to helplocal oil-palm producers in the Volta Region to change over from pressingpalm fruits in dug-outs with their feet to using a micro palm fruitdigester. The digester, which is capable of processing five tonnes of palmfruits per hour, costs 2.5 million cedis.

Mr Gershon Asempapa, a technician with the Gratis Foundation, said this inan interview with the Ghana News Agency on the first day of a tradeexhibition in Ho dubbed Voltaxpo'4 on Wednesday.

He said teams from the Foundation have visited some communities known forproducing palm oil in the region to educate them on benefits of switchingover to the appropriate technology.

Mr Asempapa said the Foundation had installed the digesters for acooperative group at Adaklu-Helekpe, while eight more communities hadexpressed interest.

Other micro type machinery on display at the Foundations stand was anIntegrated Rice Mill and a Motorized Cassava Slicer. Mr Asempapa said therice mill reduces breakage during milling and represented the Foundation'scontribution to improving the quality of local rice.

The 12-day fair is expected to attract about 100 exhibitors. TentraCompany, Feedmillers and Distributors of Poultry products and GentracVentures an Accra based hire purchase company sponsored it. Mr MicahTulevo, Executive Director of Mic-D Ventures, organizers of the Fair saidthe main aim was to raise awareness of business opportunities in the VoltaRegion.

He said the exposure and contacts some business concerns made during asimilar fair last year resulted in a boost in their sales.Source: GNA