Government to establish additional tapioca starch processing plant under IDIF programme

GHANA – The Ghanaian government has unveiled plans of setting up a cassava starch processing plant in the western region under its One District One Factory (IDIF) initiative by the close of the year.

According to Moses Kwabena Boakye, administrative manager of Amenfi Farms Ghana Limited, the project will be supported by 500 acres of land in the region which are currently under cassava plant.

Moses also noted that the cassava farm, which started seven months ago, has created about 100 jobs adding that “We have also gotten over 300 acres at Mansiso in the Municipality, and that planting will start soon.”

Speaking during a visit to Amenfi Farms Ghana Limited, Dr. Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah, Western Regional Minister, said that the facility will be processing cassava into industrial starch (tapioca) appealing for more investments into the sector.

“As the factories are going to commence production, the youth will have to start planting so that in the next year, as the factory is running, they will be gaining income,” he advised.

He also called for a collaborative approach among various stakeholders to bring the much needed development in the sector and ensure optimal productivity.

Agriculture sector gets more boost

The President of Ghana Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has also launched Planting for Export and Rural Development (PERD), under Government’s strategic Planting for Food and Jobs programme aimed at accelerating growth and development of agriculture in Ghana.

The initiative will focus on the development of selected export tree crops including; cashew, coffee, oil palm, coconut, mango as well as rubber to support diversification and facilitate additional generation of revenue.

Speaking at the launch of the initiative President Akufo-Addo indicated that the programme would enhance the foreign exchange earning capacity of the Ghanaian economy.

“PERD provides a historical opportunity for addressing the economic fundamentals by expanding the capacity to earn foreign exchange from agricultural exports, and generate much-needed jobs.”

The President restated his administration’s commitment to the development of the selected tree crops through the establishment of the relevant institution to regulate tree crop development in the country under the Tree Crop Development Authority (TCDA).

“The selection of crops in each District depends upon the ecological zone. The initial effort in the preparation of the PERD has met with resounding success with the establishment of nurseries all over the country,” he said.

A total of 32,591 hectares of tree crops are expected to be planted in 191 districts in the initial year of the programme.