Accra,(Greater Accra Region) 23 Sept. Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, President of the 31st December Women's Movement, today opened a workshop to identify the potentials of cassava processing for traditional foods, industrial raw materials and the export market. The government has identified cassava as an important crop which is used by the pharmaceutical and textile industries and can generate higher income for the rural people and contribute substantially to the national economy. To promote the crop, which accounts for 22 per cent of agricultural GDP, the ministries of agriculture, trade and industry and other collaborators have initiated programmes aimed at improving the existing varieties, increasing production and improving methods of processing. Through these efforts, an initial export of 500 metric tonnes of cassava chips in 1993 rose to 19,750 metric tonnes in 1996 with earnings of about 1.97 million dollars. Nana Konadu said it is important for exporters to invest in large scale production to develop the cassava sector on a sustainable basis to be able to keep the price of the commodity in check on the local market. "It is unfortunate that the producers of cassava who are mainly women, are not at this workshop. But we cannot discuss processing without increasing production. "Some exporters often come to the movement asking us to supply them with large quantities of cassava chips. But we cannot meet their demand relying on our current production level, while we provide gari for our communities." Nana Konadu stressed the need for local industries to process excess cassava which is not exported into starch and other products for domestic consumption and export. "Ghana's trade statistics show that in 1994 we imported well over 4,000 metric tonnes of starch, principally for the textile industry, at the cost of more than four million dollars. It is expected that by the year 2,000, we shall need 5,600 metric tonnes of starch per year. "In West and South Africa, demand for starch far exceeds local supply. The combined market for starch in Nigeria and South Africa is worth 170 million dollars. So why are we not manufacturing starch?". Nana Konadu called on all stakeholders to frequently interact, establish a network and share information to promote the crop. "Cassava holds immense promise for the future, whether for our small-scale growers and processors, using more productive varieties and methods and with better marketing linkages with exporters and local industries, or for our large scale commercial producers, processors and exporters". Dr. Kwabena Adjei, Minister of Food and Agriculture, announced that his ministry will next year launch an 11-million-dollar roots and tuber project with a bias for cassava development. He said the project which will be sponsored by the International Fund for Agricultural Development and the World Bank, will support small scale holders and nuclear growers. Dr Adjei said medium scale developers with a potential for processing will also be assisted.