ECONOMICS

Jasikan District to establish starch factory
In response to government’s “One District, one factory” policy, the Jasikan District in the Volta region is set for the establishment of starch and ethanol production factory.

Date Created : 9/8/2017 2:15:16 AM : Story Author : Christian Kpesese/Ghanadistricts.com


Speaking to ghanadistricts.com on the resource potential of the area, the District Chief Executive (DCE) for Jasikan, Lawrence Kwame Aziale said the District abounds with numerous resources including cassava, ginger, clay deposits for tiles production, oil palm, rice, citrus among others.

According to him, it is the desire of the Assembly to turn the Buem area into a hub for commercial agriculture production with cassava which has a gestation period of 3-4 months as the key produce to feed the proposed starch factory.


As their contribution for the setting up of the factory, the Chief and people of Atonkor, a community within the District have made available 4 acres of land for the establishment of the factory.


The Chiefs and people of Western Buem have also made available over 20, 000 acres of land to the Assembly for large scale cassava cultivation to make raw material readily available to the factory.

 

 

The DCE also hinted that the Assembly has identified and is already in discussions with some potential Chinese investors who have expressed interest in the establishment of the starch factory.


The investors have already surveyed the land and assured to bring in the necessary machinery that can help make the lands ploughable to guarantee large scale farming all year round whiles making available 100 acre planting material at the same time.


In readiness for a smooth take off of the factory, the District has targeted to form a total of 800 Farmer Based Organisations (FBOs) each consisting of a minimum of 10 and maximum of 25 members to go into large scale cassava farming.


Mr Aziale revealed that the District Assembly will allocate lands with inputs and provide all logistical supports to the FBOs to enhance production.


This is expected to create several jobs and opportunities for the farmers and their households for improved standards of living.


The DCE calls for an all hands on deck approach from stakeholders to enhance the development of the Jasikan District which is one of the four oldest since the creation of the Volta region.


In a related development, the Chiefs and people of Eastern Buem have also made available 15, 000 acres of land for large scale ginger farming.