Soya Bean Processing Factory Starts Production

A new soya bean processing plant that will produce a broad range of products from soya beans was commissioned in Tema yesterday.

The multi-purpose factory, known as Asasse Pa Natural Food and products Factory, which is managed by BSI (Ghana) Limited has the capacity to process over four hundred (400) tones of soya beans cultivated in the northern regions of the country.

The highly nutritious and cholesterol free products include Soya Milk, Soya Ice Cream, Tofu as well as its by-products such as Soya, Tofu fritters, Tofu Burgers, Vege Khebabs, Vege Balls in addition to wheat products like Wheat fritters and Wheat Burgers.

In a speech read on his behalf the Vice President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, said the initiative is not only critical in stimulating economic growth in the soya bean industry but in achieving national food security and economic growth.

He said the population explosion; coupled with low food production in developing countries which has culminated in millions of children to suffer severe chronic malnutrition is causing defective physical and mental development.

He disclosed that studies have also shown that soya bean is the cheapest protein source compared with other protein rich foods and said its affordability as a major protein alternative should be harnessed to enhance the health and nutrition needs of the people, especially school children.

He commended the BSI for establishing the processing plant and assisting over 300 farmers in the Dagbon Traditional area with finances as well as well as guaranteeing the purchase of the entire crop grown for the factory.

Alhaji Aliu Mahama recommended to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to include soya bean in its national buffer stock scheme to ensure availability of the raw materials to industries such as the Asasse Pa Natural Food and Product Factory and advised the company to ensure high packaging standards to make the products attractive to the consuming public.