Sunyani: Blue Skies Foundation Commissions Training Centre for Mango Farmers

The Blue Skies Foundation has commissioned a state-of-the-art training centre, the “Ernest Adjei Ablorh Agri Resource Centre,” at Sunyani Getfund, aimed at boosting mango production in the Bono Region.

The centre includes a resource centre, office space, washrooms, a store room, and a conference room.

This project, which began with a sod cutting on April 3, 2025, is the third resource centre established by Blue Skies Foundation to support smallholder farmers in the mango industry.

Mr. Anthony Pile, Founder and Chairman of Blue Skies Holdings, narrated the historical background of the company, revealing that he was sacked from a UK-based company in 1997, which prompted him to explore new opportunities in Ghana.

“It was a tough decision, and my immediate family members, including my wife, opposed it. She said it’s foolish,” he said.

However, he overcame the barriers and invested in the mango value chain, tapping into Ghana’s rich lands and raw materials to establish Blue Skies.

Blue Skies has been producing fresh-cut fruit and freshly squeezed juice products since 1998.

Mr. Anthony Pile said the vision to establish Blue Skies was to help farmers in Ghana access a ready market for mangoes and create jobs.

He added that Blue Skies has provided 5,000 direct and indirect jobs to Ghanaian youth and aims to create more opportunities while adding value to about 1,000 tonnes of mangoes weekly.

The new centre was named after the late Ernest Adjei Ablorh, Blue Skies’ Chief Agronomist, who passed away a few months after the project sod cutting, for his instrumental role in the company

Alistair Djimatey, Head of Foundation and Corporate Affairs at Blue Skies, emphasized that investing in the training and development of mango farmers is crucial for a sustainable future for the agricultural sector.

Mr. Djimatey expressed pride and pleasure in the establishment of the centre. “Today marks a significant milestone in our commitment to support the agricultural sector and empower local communities,” he said.

He believes the training centre will enable Greenfield Mango farmers Association members in the Bono Region to produce enough mangoes to meet Blue Skies’ daily production demands and provide access to specialized training and resources, enhancing their skills and knowledge to produce quality mangoes.

He emphasized that the centre will serve as a hub for knowledge sharing, capacity building, and innovation in agriculture, providing farmers with valuable resources, tools, and training to improve their practices and livelihoods.

George Kafui Agbozu, Chairman of the Greenfield Mango Farmers Association, commended the Blue Skies Foundation for the project, noting that it will ease the financial burden of rent payments and help prevent post-harvest losses.

*Source: Kaakyire Kwasi Afari. Ark FM, Sunyani*