The Minister of Food and Agriculture, Major Courage Quashigah on Wednesday said the President's Special Initiative on cassava was profit -oriented and feasibility studies have to be undertaken to establish the viability or otherwise for any district to be considered.

He said even though the PSI was not directly under the Ministry, it was collaborating with the secretariat in piloting the initiative for four years period. Major Quashigah said this in an answer asked by Ransford Y. Agyepong, NPP-Suhum on behalf of Dr William Boakye Akoto, NPP- Birim North as to what plans the Ministry has to extend the PSI on cassava production to the Birim North District.

The Minister said currently, the Ayensu Starch Company is operating in zones such as Gomoa, Agona, Awutu Effutu Senya, West Akim, Akuapem South, Ga district and parts of Suhum Kraboa Coalta districts. The company was operating also in the Volta basin zone such as Asuogyaman, Fanteakwa, Akwapim North, Kpando, Amansie West and East, Adansi East and West, Upper Denkyira and Assin districts.

Dr Mustapha Ahmed, NDC-Ayawaso East asked when the initiative would be brought to Parliament to enable members utilise it for the benefit of their people and the Minister said areas of heavy cassavas production are being targeted and explained that it was the Secretariat of the PSI that identifies areas to be supported.

Modestus Ahiable, NDC- Ketu North asked when would the production of starch actually start and the Minister said the secretariat has already taken delivery of some machinery and production is expected to start by March next year.

In another development, Major Quashigah said the Ministry was in consultation with the Ghana Export Promotion Council on issues relating to the development of ginger as an export commodity. He said the two organisations are gathering specifications on quality standards required by the international market for the split dry ginger and also exploring the possibility of using solar dryers.

Major Quashigah said this in reaction to a question asked by Godfred Otchere, NPP- Ayensuano on behalf of Mr James Adusei-Sarkodie, NPP- Atwima Nwabiagya as to whether there were any plans to revamp the ginger industry as an export crop to earn foreign exchange for the country.

The Minister said information gathered indicates that the variety being widely cultivated in the country by the farmers is more acceptable in the split and dried form rather than in its fresh state.

Major Quashigah said earlier attempts by the Ministry at promoting dried ginger for export failed in the Nkawie District because of the relatively high cost of running the diesel operated mechanical dryer and that rendered the venture uneconomical.

He said as soon as the needed information was gathered and ready, farmers would be exposed to the technology as a way of boosting the ginger trade.

Okyere asked whether new varieties could not be developed for export and the Minister said it was the manner of being dried and not the varieties but the Ministry would find ways of assisting farmers to process the crop.

Victor Gbeho, Ind. Anlo said since the export of ginger was highly competitive would the Minister consider consulting other friendly exporting countries and research institutions to assist and the Minister said the advice was worth trying.