Story By: Elizabeth Frimpong
Head of Ghana Cassava Center of Excellence, Mr. William Agyei-Manu has revealed numerous benefits derived from cassava processing industry and how their organization is ready to assist cassava farmers seeking for aid when they call upon them. He said their organization is an NGO established to help the cassava farmers all over the country.
According to Mr. Agyei-Manu, they don’t give loans and farming inputs but they provide training programs and guidelines for the cassava farmers on records keeping and bankable business for easy access to loans from the banks. He therefore exaggerated that the cassava industry is worth more than gold. They recognize it as Ghana’s White Gold.
He further disclosed the numerous benefits of cassava. Notable among them are sugar (that is glucose syrup for energy drinks), starch for cloths and newspapers, cassava flour for baking of bread, doughnuts, cocoa powder, sausage, paraceutamol, aspirin and all medicinal tablets containing starch. He said they have initiated a program this year that will help cassava farmers to convey their cassava home without any difficulties as ‘Rural Transport Project’ which will include the distribution of tricycles and small Tracks for conveyance.
He added that, they also give training programs on safety and quality processing of the Gari that will be favorable and helpful to farmers when such methods are being applied. He also said their organization in collaboration with the West African Agricultural Productivity Project (WAPP) to supply the farmers with planting materials.
He issued a statement that, in Ghana, about 9.1million farmers are cassava cultivators. He entreated the Government to pass the 10% cassava flour policy to law to create job opportunities for the people of the Republic of Ghana.
Source: ritefmonline.org
