Draft feasibility report on fish processing plant project

Abstract

Loenard Prah a prospective Agro-processing entrepreneur is interested in processing fish into various products; in the short term it is envisaged that the most effective preservative methodwould be employed; smoking using the Ahotor klin a new technology for smoking that give products that meet all world standard for healthy fish. On the long term it is envisaged that salting and drying would be employed.The smoked fish products and other related products would be marketed on both local and international markets. The Prah agro-processing entreprise contacted CSIR-Food Research Institute for technical advice as how to go about setting up the processing facility as well as the technological transfer they require to meet Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) and Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) requirement as anagro-processing enterprise. Preliminary meeting was held between CSIR-Food Research Institute and the Prah agro-processing entreprise, after which an agreement was made between the CEO,Loenard Prah and CSIR-FRI at CSIR-FRI premises situated in Oponglo South Legon, it was agreed that CSIR-FRI conduct feasibility studies on an undevelped land site in the Akotsi community of the Central Region. The proposed site for the project is located at Akotsi in the Gomoa district of Central Region, Ghana with the co-ordinates; 1072000 E, 304000 N. The site is about 96 kilometers from Accra Airport Cargo terminal, Accra Shopping Mall, 120 kilometers from the Tema Habour and 40 Kilometers from the Western Mall that are major market centers and export points. The demand for processed fish on both local and international market is very high. The fisheries production sector plays a significant role in the socioeconomic development of Ghana. Bordered on the south by the Gulf of Guinea, spanning an area of 238 500 km2, has a narrow continental shelf with a total area of about 24 300 km2. Ghana has a territorial sea of 12 nautical miles (nm) a contiguous zone of 24 nm and an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of 200 nm, covering an area of 225 000 km2. With this combination of valuable attributes, and a 550-kilometre coastline which stretches from Aflao in the East to Half Assini in the West. Ghana’s fisheries sector contributes significantly towards sustainable livelihoods of the venerable women in society who make up about 90% of the processing work force, food security and poverty reduction. The feasibility of the proposed facility was assessed in four core areas namely: Market and Financial Feasibility, Technical Feasibility, Resource and Environmental Feasibility as well as Social and Institutional Feasibility.By identifying and understanding the above listed scope of studies, one can determine whether or not to venture into the proposed project or investment. It would give an insight into which gap needs to be filled and which area needs more attention to succeed