Presentation made by Kodwo Ahlijah at the Regional forum on cassava in central Africa, on 6-9 Dec 2016, in Yaoundé, Cameroon.

1. vKodwo Ahlijah
Chairman, Ghana Industrial Cassava Stakeholders Platform
PUBLIC POLICY SUPPORT
FOR COMMERCIALISATION
OF CASSAVA INDUSTRY IN
CENTRAL AFRICA

2. AFRICA’S POTENTIAL
“AFRICA HAS 25% OF THE WORLD’S ARABLE LAND AND IT
GENERATES ONLY 10% OF GLOBAL AGRICULTURAL OUTPUT.
THEREFORE, IT IS YET TO REALISE ITS FULL POTENTIAL. ACCORDING
TO INDUSTRY REPORTS, AFRICA’S FARM SECTOR IS EXPECTED TO
GROW TO 1 TRILLION USD BY 2030, LARGELY DRIVEN BY SCIENCE
AND TECHNOLOGY” (emphasis mine)
Dr. A. Didar Singh
Secretary General, Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce
and Industry FICCI
India-Africa Agribusiness Forum 10-11 February 2016

3. AFRICAN CASSAVA BELT

4. CREATION OF NATIONAL CASSAVA PLATFORMS
Membership
1. Producers
2. Processors
3. End users/Traders
4. Researchers/standards
authority
5. Policy makers/Government
6. Input suppliers

6. MODIFIED STARCH (SAMPLE)
• CYCLODEXTRINES: used as stabilization of food flavors and fragrances.
• DEXTRINES: used as adhesives and thickening agents.
• MALTODEXTRINS: used in food to create bulk in foods that have a liquid or
gelatin-like gesture.
• POLYCARBOXYLATES: used in detergent products.
• ALKALYL GLOCOSIDES: used in a variety of household and industrial applications.
• SORBITOL: used as a non-stimulant laxative via an oral suspension or enema.
• SUCROSE: used in the plastics and cellulose industry, in rigid polyurethane foams,
manufacture of ink and transparent soaps.
• SORBITAN: Esters: used as emulsifying agents in the preparation of emulsions,
creams and ointments for pharmaceutical and cosmetic use.
• MALTOSE: used as a sweetener and fermentation processes.
• MALTILOL: used in processed foods as a sugar substitute.
•
•

7. MODIFIED STARCH (SAMPLES)
• GLUCOSE: used as a source of energy for cells.
• MANNOSE: used in the treatment of Urinary Tract Infections.
• MANNITOL: Used in the treatment of increased intracranial pressure.
Used as a sweetener for people with diabetes and in chewing gums.
• Used as a cutting agent for heroin, methamphetamines, cocaine or illicit drugs
• FRUCTOSE: used commercially in foods and beverages.
• ORGANIC ACIDS: used in food preservation.
• GRAFT POLYMERS: used as impact resistant materials, thermoplastic elastomers,
compatibilizers or emulsifiers.
• MOD STARCHES: used as thickener, texturizer, stabilizer, flavor enhancer, flavored sauces,
pudding, desserts, etc.
• ALCOHOLS: used to dissolve chemicals that are insoluble in water. (Perfumes, cosmetics and
essences)
• AMINO ACIDS: used for medicine
• Used as Growth hormone-releasing agents
• GLUCARATES: used as a calcium replenisher.
•

8. TRENDS IN SOUTH EAST ASIA
• South East Asia appears to be running out
lands suitable for expansion of their cassava
starch industry
• It is projected that more than an additional
200,000 metric tonnes of cassava starch and
derivatives are required but have no choice
than to look elsewhere----Africa and South
America

9. GOVERNMENT INTERVENTIONS
• ESTABLISH SIZE OF MARKET
OPPORTUNITY
• INVESTMENT PROMOTION
• RE:TAX HOLIDAYS FOR INVESTORS
• RE: FREE CUSTOMS DUTY ON ALL
IMPORTED AGRICULTURAL AND STARCH
AND DERIVATIVES PROCESSING
EQUIPMENT

10. GOVERNMENT INTERVENTIONS
• CREATE CROP INSURANCE SCHEME
• CREATE CASSAVA RESEARCH
INSTITUTE(EITHER AS A DIVISION
WITHIN IITA OR AS A SEPARATE
BODY)
• CREATE A STARCH DEVELOPMENT
BOARD (TO SUPPORT PRIVATE
INVESTORS)

11. CONSIDERATION OF SIZE OF STARCH PROCESSING PLANT
Cassava Waste as
a Net Energy Exporter
200 TPD Starch Factory - 1,477,330 MJ per Day

12. AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT
COMPARISON OF AFRICA AND SELECTED DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
Region
Fertilizer
use
kg/ha
Irrigation
Percentage
of
arable land
Tractors
per
1000 ha
Africa 13 5 28
Average of 9
selected
Countries
208 38 241

13. TENANT FARMERS, MECHANISATION
AND SOCIAL SECURITY SCHEME
• Formal education and exposure to urban life
make African youth run away from the drudgery
of farming with hoes and cutlasses.
Mechanisation will make them stay on the
plantations in the rural areas and enjoy decent
and regular income all year round. Regularity of
income as Tenant Farmers will make them legible
to register under Social Security or Pension
Schemes. An example is the declining farm labour
in the Ghana cocoa industry in the face of
increasing unemployment.

14. CONCLUSION
• AFRICAN COUNTRIES ON THE CASSAVA
BELT CAN NO LONGER WAIT BUT TO
PUT IN PLACE MEASURES TO DEVELOP
THE STARCH FACTORIES TO PROCESS THE
ADDITIONAL CASSAVA TUBERS ,FOR
BOTH IMPORT SUBSTITUTION AND
EXPORT TO CHINA , SOUTH EAST ASIA
AND OTHER EUROPEAN COUNTRIES.

15. •Many thanks for your kind
attention.
• Email:kodwo@yahoo.com