SECTOR CAPABILITIES - Cassava Starch
Ghana is the second leading producer of cassava in Africa and the fifth in the world accounting for more than 22 million metric tons in 2019 production season, representing 7.56% of global output. Over 1 Million hectares are currently destinated to cassava production, engaging around 70% of the farmers in the country.
Cassava starch is an important derivate of the tuber, used for different industries including food processing, pet foods and animal feed industries, as well as in other sectors. Ghana exported over 500 metric tons of cassava starch in 2020 for around US$364,000.
There are several clusters in Ghana where cassava producers and processors meet and the cassava value chain takes place. In the case of cassava starch, the main clusters are the Bodwease- Abura- Fosu Cluster, with 1,100 farmers and 5 processors and the Fanteakwa- Afram Plains Cluster with 1,200 farmers and 7 processors.
The US is the main destination of Ghanaian cassava starch concentrating over 80% of the exports. Other destinations in Europe like Belgium, Italy and the Netherlands are also purchasing this product from Ghana.
The use of improved cassava varieties with high starch and low cyanide content, together with low chemical agricultural practices, makes the Ghanaian cassava starch an excellent alternative for the food industry.
The production of cassava starch in Ghana is part of a strong value chain supported by national and international organizations, providing constant improvement of the plant material, agricultural practices and processing methods. Therefore, Ghana can be a strategic partner for the development of cassava starch and cassava starch by-products.
Reasons to buy
Ghanaian cassava starch provides the following benefits:
- Unique frozen-thaw stability over other starches
- Excellent alternative for gluten, grain, nut-free and paleo diets
- Low chemical usage in the cassava production over other suppliers worldwide
- Use of cassava varieties with very low cyanide content
- Improved cassava varieties with high starch content
- Geographic proximity to Europe
- Zero import tariff in the EU
- Growth potential due to wide availability of cassava all year round
- Strong institutional support of the cassava sector
- R&D programs in the whole value chain
- National and International actors involved in the improvement of the sector
Trade performance
Featured exporters
Neat Foods Company Limited
Neat Foods range of products, are produced from fresh carefully selected farm produce of high quality. NEAT FOODS commenced yam processing in 2009. In addition to yam, it processes a range of flours – cassava flour and plantain flour. The company belongs to a larger holding company, which owns a…Show: Neat Foods Company Limited
Maphlix Trust Ghana Limited
Maphlix Trust Ghana Limited is one of the players in the food production and processing industry of Ghana. We are engaged in the production and sale of varied food crops in vegetable, grain, root and tubers categories. Apart from the production and export of some major food crops such as…Show: Maphlix Trust Ghana Limited
Cotton-Weblink Portfolio Ltd.
Cotton-Weblink Portfolio Ltd. is a limited liability company incorporated in Ghana in 2002. The company is headquartered in Somanya in Ghana’s Eastern Region and is a subsidiary of the Manogo City and FMSL Ghana Ltd. group of companies. Since 2007, the company has been Global G.A.P. certified, under Option 1…Show: Cotton-Weblink Portfolio Ltd.
Useful links
Ghana Cassava Centre of Excellence (GCCE)
Ghana Cassava Centre of Excellence is a non-profit, nongovernmental organization to strengthen innovations for Sustainable Development of Cassava Value Chain in Ghana, from research on crop production through to post-harvest handling, marketing, processing and consumption undertaken through a mix of innovative approaches.
Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)
The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) is a national science and technology institution in Ghana created to implement government policies on scientific research and development, coordinate R&D activities in the CSIR and other S&T institutions nationwide and assist the government in the formulation of S&T policies for national development.
Ghana Root Crops and Tubers Exporters Union (GROCTEU)
GROCTEU associates the exporters of roots and tubers in Ghana and supports its members in improving their processes to achieve international standards, provides market intelligence and information on finance and equipment for the sector.