THE President’s Special Initiative on cassava, through the Ayensu Starch Company, is to produce 20,000 tonnes of industrial starch per annum for export.

This is expected to earn millions of dollars, boost the nation’s foreign exchange reserves and also offer thousands of jobs to the multitude of unemployed people in the country.

Mr Kwabena Agyepong, Government Spokesman, who disclosed this in an interview in Accra at the weekend , was shedding light on the progress chalked so far on the President’s Special Initiative on cassava which was launched a few months ago.

According to the Government Spokesman, the Ayensu Starch Company had already secured a sound and long-term marketing arrangement in South Africa for the export of industrial starch to that country.

“Efforts are also underway to secure additional and lucrative markets in Western Europe, North America and Asia where industrial starch which is used in the paper and pulp as well as petrol chemical industries, is in high demand” he stressed.

Mr Agyepong further disclosed that six containers of equipment for the processing of industrial starch procured from the International Starch Institute of Denmark have already arrived in the country and would soon be handed over, assembled and put to use.

“This among others, represents a practical demonstration of the commitment of President J. A. Kufuor to his initiative on job creation of which this initiative on cassava is just one,” hestressed.

Mr Agyepong stated that infrastructural work at the project site is progressing steadily and that farming operations in the main and the catchment areas of the project ware proceeding according to schedule.

He indicated that cassava production to feed the starch project under the first phase was very encouraging in the Awutu, Effutu Senya, Upper Denkyira, Asuogyaman and Fanteakwa districts and that six other districts with potential for cassava production would be added to the project in the second phase.

Mr Agyepong said that the initiative has also received a major boost from the Ashanti Goldfields Company (AGC) and the Adansi West District Assembly both of whom have supported the project with land free from litigations as well as with various forms of equipment and logistics. “Government wishes to commend the AGC and the Adansi West Assembly for the significant support for the initiative and takes this opportunity to urge other areas earmarked for this and other projects under the Initiative to emulate these laudable examples to help move the nation forward,” he stressed.

He stated that technical teams have concluded studies in nine other sites proposed for other phases of the project and urged farmers and workers involved in the project to work hard and give it their best support to guarantee its success for the benefit of all.