Cassava processing factory inaugurated at Asante-Asokore

Asokore (Ash), Dec. 19, GNA - A cassava processing factory constructed and equipped at a total cost of 135 million cedis to enhance the income generating activities of the people of Asokore in the Sekyere-East District, has been commissioned.

The project, initiated and partly funded by Nana Susubiribi Krobea Asante, Paramount Chief of the Asokore Traditional Area and the European Union (EU), is intended not only to process gari, but also to manufacture starch for local consumption and export.

While the EU supported the project with 60 million cedis, Nana Susubiribi Asante contributed 75 million cedis from his personal purse for the purchase and installation of the equipment.

The factory currently has the relevant equipment including grating machine, squeezer, diesel driven machine and electricity supply. Commissioning the project at Asokore on Monday, Nana Krobea Asante gave the assurance that dialogue was being held with the Thai government, which had given indications to assist in further expansion and establishment of an additional cassava factory for the area. He said to adequately meet the demands for raw materials for the sustenance of the factory; it would not only buy cassava from individual farmers but would soon establish its own farm.

Nana Krobea Asante said this apart, the President's Special Initiative (PSI) on cassava had given an assurance to not only assist with cassava but also assist them with marketing the products. He gave the assurance that with the successful functioning of the cassava processing factory, the Traditional Council would explored all avenues to establish an oil-processing factory in the area. Mr J K Amoah, Production Manager, said the factory still needed additional equipment like a sieve, a miller and a standby generator to broaden its operations.

He appealed to farmers in and around the area to sell their produce to the factory since it was a ready market for them. A committee headed by Nana Kyeame Boateng of the Asokore Traditional Area, was later appointed to oversee the running of the factory.