National Service personnel grow cassava for starch project

Agona Akuako (C/R), July 30, GNA- The Director of the National Service Scheme (NSS), Mr Boniface Gambila, has appealed to Ghanaians to appreciate the various Presidential Special Initiatives (PSI), which aim at providing employment and revamping the economy. He said the spirit that moved President John Agyekum Kufuor to initiate the projects showed his deep commitment to the welfare of Ghanaians.

Mr Gambila was commissioning a five-hectare cassava farm belonging to the National Service at Agona Akuako in the Central Region. He said even though the country had been dealing with cassava for hundreds of years, it never occurred to the people to diversify the crop for export to earn the nation foreign exchange.

Mr Gambila appealed to farmers contributing to the operations of the Ayensu Cassava Company not to be discouraged by the initial price offered them by the company.

''There is every indication that when the world market price of Ghana's industrial starch goes up you will not be denied your bonuses as promised by the management of the company'', adding, ''The price of the commodity may suffer some initial setbacks before it will shoot up as years go by.''

Mr. Gambila commended service personnel who accepted the challenge to go and stay at the village to start the project for their high sense of commitment and dedication to the national economy. He said he hoped that the experience they had gained at the area would help them to establish their own farms when they complete the service.

The National Service has spent about five million cedis on the farm that forms part of the 10-heactare land released to by the management of the Ayensu Starch Company for the project.