[ 2016-06-30 ]

KNUST Lecturer Unveils Industrial, Revenue Potentials of Cassava
Cassava has been identified as multi-millionaire
crop which can turn the fortunes of the
country’s economy if stakeholders invest a lot
in the sector.

According to experts, its potential of generating
revenue is enormous despite the lack of attention
by government and various farmer groups for some
time now.

Professor Emmanuel Y.H Bobobee a lecturer at the
Department Of Agricultural Engineering at the
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology
(KNUST) who made this known, said cassava is an
industrial crop which can be used to attract the
youth into agriculture to also set up their own
businesses.

According to him, if the needed attention is given
to cassava cultivation, it can help to resolve the
unemployment rate in the country.

At the 9th Annual International Applied Research
Conference under the theme “Applied research for
the innovative and strategic solution to national
problems” at Koforidua Polytechnic, the learned
academician also said cassava is a dry resistant
crop which needs to be upgraded from its status
from separating crop to an industrial crop to
exploit its industrial potential.

He observed that the system of harvesting cassava
remains one of the biggest constraints which
hinder rapid cassava marketing and farmers need to
adopt accessible mechanization in their production
and cultivation due to rapid rainfall.

“The traditional way of planting cassava must
change because of rapid rainfall and flood we have
been experiencing in the country which will get
the cassava root rotten,” the lecturer added.

Prof. Bobobee disclosed that a mechanical cassava
harvester has been developed by the KNUST,
explaining that it is an innovative device that is
supposed to unlock the huge potential of cassava
as an industrial crop to make its production
easy.

To this end, he pleaded with the government to
help support the machine project so that it
improves the cultivation and production of cassava
in the country.

Source - Ultimate1069.com

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