Farmers asked to root for one district one factory programme

Axim (WR), June 28, GNA - Professor Joe Manu Adeuening, the Deputy Director of Crop Research Institute of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has urged farmers to plant new variety of cassava to meet growing demand from industries.

He said farmers should take advantage of the government's one-district-one factory and planting for food and jobs policies aimed at increasing production and creating wealth.

Prof Aduening who is also a Cassava Bleeder gave the advice at a capacity building workshop for cassava farmers and Agric extension officers at Axim in the Western Region.

The participants were drawn from the Jomoro, Nzema East, Ellembele, Ahanta West and Mpohor Districts.

The workshop which was organised by the West Africa Virus Epidemiology (WAVE) was funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Prof Aduening noted that Ghana produced 16 million tonnes of cassava last year, out of which nine million tonnes were used by industries. The rest were not used.

He therefore urged farmers to plant the cassava variety to produce more starch, flour and etalon which are needed by industries.

The Deputy Director of CRI said a total of 24 new cassava varieties had been released and distributed by cassava bleeders since 1993 to 2017 to boost the Agric sector.

Dr Allen Oppong, Crop Scientist and National Coordinator of West Africa Virus Epidemiology (WAVE), said the cassava brown streak disease which affected cassava production has not been detected in Ghana but research was being conducted on it and urged farmers to report any strange disease which may be detected on their cassava plantation to crop experts.

Dr Oppong said the capacity building training workshop for farmers would be replicated in neighbouring West African counties.

GNA