JiniJini, Soursop fruit has been with us for ages. We usually cultivate it in our backyards or mini gardens in our respective houses with no intention of growing it on a large scale for industrial use.
However, following a series of research, a Ghanaian from Jinijini in the Berekum West District of the Bono Region, Mr. George Aduhene, a lawyer by profession and farmer by passion, has resolved to take up the mantle by commercializing its production in Ghana for industrial purposes across the globe.
The soursop tree is a member of the Annonacaceae family, commonly grown in North America. The species can easily reach heights of 4 meters and can adapt well to warm winters and humid tropical climatic conditions.
Mr. Aduhene, the Chief Executive Officer of CediFresh Farms, is the first Ghanaian to commercialize soursop or Aperi farming in Ghana, hoping to have the biggest plantation in the entire sub-region.
After careful consideration in 2017, he decided to look out for quality seeds to give birth to his dream of becoming the leading producer of soursop fruits in the world.
According to him, he imported some soursop seeds from America but they did not stand the test of time. However, he scouted for them in the Ghanaian market. The irony of it all is that CediFresh Farms collected the seedlings from soursop consumers in Kumasi and Koforidua for the prototype/ Proof farm. He bought 450 seedlings, and planted them in Jinjini, his hometown, on a 17-acre land.
The good news is that none of the 450 seedlings he bought from the Ghanaian market went to waste, and this is bearing great fruit with high-quality yields. The soursop tree bears fruits all year round.
Mr. Paul Ofosu, the Operations Manager at CediFresh Farms who took DailyAgricNews.com reporters around, narrated the germination period of the soursop fruits and how lovely they grow. He explained that the plant takes three years to mature and bear fruits onward, adding that its cultivation and management aren’t difficult with the right technical support and resources from experts.
After almost 8 years in operation, CediFresh Farms has acquired an additional 20-acre land in the same locality to expand its plantation.
He is optimistic about making a huge global impact with his good agronomic practices, since the crop yields are so encouraging, motivating him to go the extra mile to expand his boundaries. It is against this backdrop that the farms are nursing the seeds for the Ghanaian market, aiming to become the center of excellence for soursop production within the region.
Due to this, he is building a mini-village that harbors state-of-the-art facilities to accommodate prospective investors, farmers, academia, and other corporate bodies who may visit CediFresh Farms.
Vision
“It is my hope that within the next 10 years, we will own 1000 acres of soursop fruit plantation in sub-Saharan Africa,” says Lawyer George Aduhene. “It is our prime motive to add value to the fruits.
As a result of that, we are putting our processing factory in place to produce fresh fruit juice, alcoholic beverages, and medicinal products for pharmaceutical companies,” says George Aduhene, the Chief Executive Officer of CediFresh Farms.
He said CediFresh fruit will be on the shelves of supermarkets and malls in the global market in the next few years.
CediFresh Farms was inspired by the dream to commercialize the non-traditional tree crop soursop to serve as a springboard to create jobs and contribute to rural development, he added. “We are on course to meeting our set goals and objectives in establishing the farms, and within the next few years, CediFresh Farms will become the household name of soursop fruit juices in Ghana and beyond,” he stated.
Market Value
Soursop has a large market share due to its medicinal usage in the treatment of cancer-related issues, but it requires huge sums of capital before you can compete vigorously. The commodity presents some huge investment opportunities with its guaranteed returns since soursop cultivation is limited to a few regions globally.
At the moment, fruits from their farms are being sold locally, with a high demand for them. Along the production line, CediFresh Farms aspires to open its doors for partnerships, whether local or international, for the sustainability and scalability of, he stated.
Background
Jinijini is a farming community in the Berekum West District of the Bono Region. It is a 10-minute drive from Berekum. The word “jinijini” means pure, clear, and still (of water).
