CRI introduce artisans to manufacturing of cassava harvester

The Crop Research Institute of Council for Scientific and Industrial Research has embarked on a project to improve local economies at cassava growing areas in the country.

Under this project, artisans in cassava growing areas will receive training in manufacturing of the CRI- manual cassava harvester.

The simple farm tool is designed to deal with challenges farmers encounter during the harvest period of the crop.

Launched earlier this year, cassava farmers have expressed interest in the tool since little effort is needed to achieve required results.

The training project is a proposed solution to the increasing demand for the simple farm tool. Local artisans are also expected to increase profit margins through the production and sale of the harvester.

At the first training program at Mampong and Ejura, Kwadwo Fosu, an artisan at Ejura reveals the once lucrative venture has become less profitable, attributing decrease in income to influx of the market.

He believes with the training received in the new product, their financial burdens will be lightened.

Lead Researcher at the CRI, Shadrack Kwadwo Amponsah says inventions in agriculture are geared towards poverty alleviation through capacity building for individuals.

He says the invention is timely since the challenge in harvesting of cassava has limited farmers from increasing their farmlands to benefit from the expanding market.

"The demand for cassava now is higher due to the alcoholic beverage producers, now cassava is used in beer production but these farmers are not able to benefit since harvesting is very difficult", he said.