SECTOR CAPABILITIES - Ethanol from cassava
Due to its high starch content, the cassava root is an excellent crop for the production of ethanol for industrial purposes but also as bio-fuel.
The production of ethanol from cassava 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.
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.
Currently, there are several clusters in Ghana grouping cassava producers and processors, generating synergies in the production chain. The two most significant zones for the ethanol production in Ghana are located around the Volta cluster including 1,700 farmers and 8 processors, and the Fanteakwa cluster in the Afram Plains, with 1,200 farmers and 7 processors.
Due to the extensive availability of the raw material and the governmental support for the sector, Ghanaian processors of ethanol are ready to scale up their production to meet the needs of the international markets.
In 2019, Mali was the main destination of the Ghanaian ethanol exports concentrating 78% of the exports´ value, followed by the South Africa with 16% and Togo with 3%.
Reasons to buy
Ghanaian ethanol from cassava provides the following benefits:
- Growth potential due to wide availability of cassava all year round
- R&D programs in the whole value chain
- National and International actors involved in the improvement of the sector
- Strong institutional support of the cassava sector
Trade performance
Featured exporters
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.
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
Useful links
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.
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.