Field study Ghana 2004

Host Partner(s): Department of Agricultural Economics and Farm Management of the Faculty of Agriculture of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (DAEFM/FA-KNUST)

Other Partners: Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) in collaboration with the Sedentary Farming Systems ProjectGerman Technical Cooperation (MOFA-GTZ/SFSP), and in collaboration with the Root and Tuber Improvement Programme (MOFA/RTIP)

Topic: Processing of agricultural produce: Assessment of constraints and opportunities of small. medium, and large scale processing of cassava in the Ashanti and Brong Ahafo Regions of Ghana

Location: Ashanti and Brong Ahafo Regions, Ghana

ICRA Working Document Series number: 117

Background: The study assessed the current and potential market for cassava products from small and medium scale processors in Brong Ahafo and Ashanti Regions, and developed recommendations for improving small to medium scale cassava processing

Objectives: To identify and analyse the opportunities for processing cassava for industrial use, to identify and analyse the factors affecting the operations of small to medium scale processing units and to propose strategies and ways of increasing the profitability of such units, to formulate proposals for developing a viable processing of cassava for industrial use at medium and large scale.

Outputs:The study focused on establishing the potential for producing marketable flour for industrial and food use, starch for industrial use, and gari for food from cassava by small and medium scale processors, and the possibility for realizing this in Brong Ahafo and Ashanti Regions. Emphasis was put on understanding of constraints limiting production and supply of both raw cassava material and processed products, and opportunities available for uplifting small and medium scale cassava processing to a level that would make it a viable enterprise.

Team Members:

Name	Nationality	Institute	Discipline
Paulina Addy (LCP)	Ghana	Ministry of Food and Agriculture	Post-harvest and food technology
Imelda Kashaija	Uganda	NARO, Kachwekano ARDC	Plant protection
Margaret Moyo	Zimbabwe	Henderson Research Station, Mazowe	Animal production
Quynh Nguyen Khac	Vietnam	Vietnam Agricultural Science Institute, Dept. of research planning and international cooperation	Agric. economics
Sukhpal Singh Sharma	India	Punjab Agricultural University, Dept. of economics	Agric. economics
Peter Walekhwa	Uganda	Makerere University, Faculty of Agriculture, Dept. of Agric. Economics & Agribusiness	Agric. economics

Reviewer: Juan Ceballos-Müller (Germany), ICRA, AP Coordinator

ABSTRACT

The study assessed the current and potential market for cassava products from small and medium scale processors in Brong Ahafo and Ashanti Regions of Ghana, and developed recommendations for improving small to medium scale cassava processing of cassava.

The ICRA team followed the Agricultural Research for Development (ARD) procedure developed by ICRA. The ARD procedure contributes to wider development objectives such as poverty alleviation, food security, competitiveness of farming enterprises and sustainable resource use. The procedure uses participatory and systems approaches to integrate the varying perspectives of different stakeholders. It also facilitates team work across different disciplines and institutions.

Based on its analysis of the cassava marketing chain in Ghana, the ICRA team came up with some insights which require stakeholders to look into: Research work done in Ghana indicates that it is feasible to substitute wheat flour by HQCF for bakery, glue extenders and other products. Using the information available on the substitution rates, potential demand for HQCF regionally and nationally in Ghana need to be established. Issues of scale of operation and organization of supply of raw material supply are also areas that need focusing to transform cassava into a competitive industrial crop.

KEY WORDS:Ghana, cassava processing, cassava marketing chain

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