Ghanaians: Have stood to adopt large-scale production to Embark on the potential of the Cassava Enterprise

By Abdul Rahman Bangura–

NEW AFRICA DAILY NEWS (NADN) Freetown, Sierra Leone– This was disclosed at the information session and the liftoff of the International Cassava Fair (FIMAN 2023) is planned to take place from Tuesday, November 21st, 2023 to Thursday, November 23rd, 2023, in Paranavaí, Brazil. Presently, Ghana is producing over 1 million metric tones of edible cassava for domestic consumption instead of the industrialized type with high starch content needed to feed industry and for exports.

Deputy Director of Agriculture – George Prah oversight Tubers, comprising cassava, at the Ministry of Agriculture, noted the administration’s affirmation to promote cassava industrialization to quickly fix the gap, especially Ghana’s cultivation of edible cassava assortments.

“…Ghana, we are already self-edibles in our cassava production. We produce more than we require and that is why the government is calling for the industrialization of the cassava industry.

“We produce more of the edible type and for that matter we are not able to feed our industry with industrialized starch so, the government is urging producers to link up to partner with large-scale processors to streamline the production of essential industrial materials, fostering growth and efficiency within the industry.”

Prah let out the administration, through Phase Two of the Planting for Food and Jobs Programe (PFJ 2), had established farming enclaves across cassava-growing regions for the cultivation of industrialized cassava varieties.

“…There is a model that the Ministry is trying to run, farmers in cassava production, identified in these particular enclaves will be managed by aggregators, these aggregators will provide them with all the necessary mechanization and extension services so it’s not just going to be farmers being left on their own to do their own production, they will manage mechanization produce to meet the particular demand of these processing outfits.”

He told the government through research he had come out with about thirty one varieties of industrialized cassava types for cultivation by out growers.

“As it stands now…we have about thirty-one varieties of the industrialized ones, I can mention Sika bankye, I can mention Cape Vas bankye, I can mention Tech bankye, I can mention Afisiafi, we have Esam bankye, we have Bankye Hemaa, there are a lot, they are all industrialized varieties.”

Agrihouse Foundation’s Executive Director, Alberta Nana Akyaa Akosa, exhorted cassava industry participants to take hold of the chance and
partake in the Fair, emphasizing its potential to increase their sector knowledge and access new opportunities.

“We are hoping to lead a strong delegation to Brazil, where it will not only be for the agri-tourism component, but also present the learning and information session that our industry can adopt to grow…”

William Dzamefe – the Regional Director of the Department of Agriculture in the Volta Region, spoke out matters such as the land tenure system, limited mechanization in cassava farming, and challenges in accessing global markets were hindering the cassava sector’s growth.

Eric Asamani Hudson, the Regional Director of the Department of Agriculture in Greater Accra Region, highlighted the abundant opportunities within the cassava cultivation sector.

“We underestimated the gold in cassava and have not celebrated it enough, cassava can bring tourism, can be packaged as snack, used in sanitizers, tomato paste, biofuel for vehicles…”

Agri house Foundation and Podium Alimentos are joining forces to bolster the international cassava Fair’s significance and influence in Ghana, with a core mission of enhancing the cassava value chain sector.

For New Africa Daily News Abdul Rahman Bangura Reports,  Africa Correspondent