Cassava as a commercial industrial commodity

Partners in Ghana:
Food Research Institute
Afrimart Global Enterprise
Amasa Agro-Processing Company
Feed and Flour Ghana Limite
Forestry Research Institute of Ghana
Ministry of Food and Agriculture (Brong-Ahafo Region)
National Board for Small-Scale Industries
University of Ghana, Department of Nutrition & Food Science

Problem:
Surveys and value chain analyses had identified a 30-40% in-ground surplus of cassava and lack of market for farmers produce.  Various industrial sectors (plywood, paperboard, bakery, confectionary and industrial & potable alcohol) were identified that relied on expensive imported raw materials where a locally produced cassava based alternative had potential to substitute for the imported material (import substitution) and create a market for the farmers’ cassava. 

Achievements:
A range of processing options was developed to convert fresh cassava into high quality cassava flour (HQCF), paperboard adhesive, glucose syrup (mixed sugar syrup) and industrial and potable alcohol. The HQCF was used at levels of 10-35% in a range of bakery products and proved popular in rural areas where consumers preferred the heavy cake like texture created by the HQCF.  HQCF was used for complete substitution of wheat flour as an extender in urea and phenol formaldehyde resin plywood adhesives.  HQCF was blended with soluble borax and caustic soda to produce Bauer type paperboard adhesive that could completely replace imported starch based materials. 

A controlled process was developed for conversion of HQCF into sugar syrups with a range of dextrose equivalents to meet different end-user requirements using enzymes from plant seedlings.  A system was developed for conversion of sugar syrup into ethyl alcohol for industrial or potable use.  The system for conversion of sugar syrups was derived from mathematical models but these were converted into simple sets of instructions for use by rural processors.  Three commercial processors took on the role of market intermediary between the farmers and the end-users and a system for conflict resolution was developed with independent arbitration to maintain good relations throughout the supply chain. 

At the end of project, the three processing industries were engaged with 5,000 farmers at 15 geographically diverse locations, and supplying 12 plywood mills and 6 food industries in Ghana, and 9 regional and international export markets.  Since the end of the project a fourth Ghanaian processor has become involved on the plywood side and the glucose syrup work is being taken up commercially in Nigeria.  The work in Ghana was designed to meet the needs of countries with a relatively low level of development where expensive imported enzymes, adhesives and wheat flour are not affordable.  The output would NOT suit countries with sophisticated enzyme and starch industries.