Development status of cassava starch production in Ghana

Ghana's Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture Hassan Ahmed Yakubu said that Ghana’s 2016 cassava output was 17 million metric tons. It is enough to meet domestic food demand this year. Hassan noted that the recent shortage of cassava in the Ghana market was not caused by the reduction of cassava production, but mainly caused by weak infrastructure and poor food transportation. In fact, the annual demand for cassava in Ghana is only 10 million metric tons, and domestic production capacity is sufficient. The demand for cassava starch production in Ghana is far beyond the local demand for cassava raw materials. Hassan called on the domestic private sector to increase investment in agriculture and improve agricultural warehousing and logistics.

Cassava & cassava starch

Cassava is drought-tolerant and adapts to poor land. It is largely planted in more than 40 countries in Africa. The annual output of roots is more than 100 million tons, accounting for half of the world's total output of cassava roots. Therefore, the price and output of cassava starch production in Ghana will be guaranteed. In most countries, of tropical Africa, as a basic staple food, cassava root is a reliable source of food during the dry season.

The processing machine of cassava starch production in Ghana is significant for the development of agriculture. Due to the lack of electromechanical equipment for the production of starch, the only starch production company- Ayensu Starch Factory in Ghana was fully closed in April this year.

Cassava starch production plant in Ghana

It is unclear when the plant will begin to reproduce starch because the plant must have specific equipment to meet the company's production needs, but the equipment may not be imported and installed until the end of the year. Cassava starch production in Ghana needs to be upgraded, and everything is determined according to the technologically advanced level of the making equipment. Therefore, the workers of the factory were called upon to go home to wait for the notice of work. At present, the factory is closed and only security personnel are on duty.

The Ayensu starch factory which is an important cassava starch production in Ghana factory has been closed several times this year. However, this time it was the last time that the plant provided starch to customers. Therefore, farmers who supply cassava to the factory will need to find other ways to sell and process cassava.

According to the China-Africa Trade Research Center, the Ayensu starch factory in Ghana was established in 2002. Since its establishment, due to the lack of electromechanical equipment, the output capacity of cassava starch production in Ghana is low. Except for the lack of electromechanical equipment, raw materials and fuel are also the main reasons.

Cassava starch production machine

So why can't the Ayensu starch factory fail? The uninterrupted demand for cassava starch production in Ghana is at the root. First, it is the primary source of income for cassava farmers in Ghana. Second, the plant supplies raw materials to the local Guinness Ghana plant. More importantly, crop research institutes and pastry companies rely on it to operate.

Africa is bred with huge market opportunities, but at present the local infrastructure construction is flimsy, the level of industrial development is very low. The manufacturing technology for cassava starch production in Ghana is generally backward, and most commodities have to be imported. At present, it is the better time for China's electromechanical products to enter the African market.