Ghana Recieved a total of 4.8 million dollars from the export of yam, cocoyam and cassava production.

This figure represents 6.1% of the national agricultural export.

Mr. Samuel Nuamah Donkor, the Regional Minister, disclosed this at a day's seminar on the improvement of root and tuber crops in Ghana.

The aim of the seminar organised by the Ministry of Agriculture in conjunction with IFAD was to sensitize the knowledge base of farmers on the production of root and tuber crops.

Mr. Nuamah Donkor noted in a speech read on his behalf that, even though Ghana receives a lot of money from the exportation of root and tuber crops, much has not been done to improve their quality.

The regional minister also disclosed that between 1992 and 1998, cassava production ranged between 800,000 to 1.2 metric tonnes depicting an average yield of 10 metric tonnes per hectare.

He could not discern why there was low productivity level for root and tuber crops in the country in spite of its great importance.

"Good management practices would improve this situation", he advised.

He expressed the government's commitment to ensure adequate food production in the country and hoped farmers would complement government's efforts with the knowledge acquired at the seminar.

The national programme co-ordinator of the Root and Tuber Improvement programme, Mr. Akwasi Agyei Adjekum, disclosed that root and tuber production alone contributes 42% of the national gross domestic product.