The Crops Research Institute (CRI) of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has signed a partnership agreement with the Ghana Cassava Center of Excellence (GCCE) to strengthen cassava production, research and value addition in Ghana.
The collaboration seeks to improve cassava agronomy, promote the utilisation of the crop and enhance private sector participation in the country’s cassava industry.
Get more exclusive breaking news updates on our WhatsApp channel .
Speaking at the signing ceremony at Fumesua in the Ejisu Municipality of the Ashanti Region, the Deputy Director of CSIR-CRI, Dr Maxwell Darko Asante, described cassava as a strategic food crop whose full economic potential could be realised through stronger collaboration between research institutions and the private sector.
He assured stakeholders that the institute would provide the necessary technical expertise, research support and improved technologies to increase cassava production and utilisation.
“I am hopeful this collaboration will sustain and impact positively on cassava production for Ghana as a whole,” Dr Asante said.
He also called for stronger partnerships with CSIR-CRI to expand agricultural research and accelerate the development of improved crop varieties that meet the needs of farmers and industry.
According to Dr Asante, research remains essential to improving crop quality, increasing productivity and developing new varieties capable of supporting Ghana’s agricultural transformation.
The Executive Director of the Ghana Cassava Center of Excellence, William Agyei-Manu, said formalising the partnership would strengthen the Centre’s role in disseminating agricultural extension services and bridging the gap between scientific research and commercial production.
He expressed confidence that the collaboration would support the government’s ambition to develop a competitive cassava starch export industry.
“We need cassava varieties with very high starch content to reduce the cost of production and processing. This collaboration will help us achieve that objective,” he said.
Mr Agyei-Manu noted that the Centre would also promote greater private sector investment in the cassava value chain to enhance processing and export opportunities.
He further revealed that the Ghana Cassava Center of Excellence was introducing Circular Economy and Environmental Policy initiatives aimed at promoting sustainable practices within the cassava industry.
These initiatives include the use of cassava as an alternative livestock feed, the recovery of crude starch from cassava waste and the utilisation of processing waste in mushroom cultivation.
According to Mr Agyei-Manu, the adoption of circular economy practices would help reduce waste, lower production costs and create additional economic opportunities within Ghana’s cassava sector.
