Over 30 million dollars can be realized from cassava production and Ghana can fit to that says Evans Ayensu, of Ayensu starch processing company in the Central Region.
He said Thailand is leading the way and Ghana with its huge potentials can also fit into that by growing cassava not only for consumption, but to feed industry such as clothing and textile industry as well as the pharmaceuticals industry among others.
Mr. Ayensu said this at a conference in Tamale on Financial and Technological Boost for the agricultural processing which is being implemented by TIAST Group from China and Stanbic Bank
The Tiast Group and Standbic Bank would be giving financial and technological boost for the development of the cassava industry in Ghana. Among others, the project will provide sufficient support for chiefs, farmers, business people and the youth that are willing to go into cultivation and processing of cassava in the region thereby helping to achieve industrialization and boosting Ghana’s economy.
Industry players including technocrats, farmers, financial institutions as well as traditional rulers among others gathered for the conference.
Acting head of commercial banking at Stanbic Bank, Abdul Jalele Husien in an address noted that the most oppressive thing to resist in the north is poverty. He said agriculture has the potential to realizing that and through the collaboration, farmers can hopefully move from subsistence to commercial agriculture.
Mr. Husien said technology, marketing and innovation are key areas the partnership would be helping farmers with in order to realize their potentials.
The overlord of Dagbon, Yaa-naa Mahama Abukari II, in a speech read for him by the Nanton-naa Mahammadu Bawa, commended the Tiast initiative and promised the support of the traditional authorities to ensuring that agricultural transformation and industrialization are achieved in order to lift the people from the area out of poverty.
Commercial agriculture, he added is the way to go considering the vast land available and the potentials for creation of jobs for the teaming youth.
The Yaa-naa thereby urged chiefs under his jurisdiction to release more land for cassava production and development of the area.
