Assessing the role of the actors along the cassava value chain in selected communities in Mampong in the Ashanti Region

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July, 2015
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The root and tuber (R&T) chains in Ghana has been noted to be underdeveloped. Processing is limited to traditional food stuff, mainly cassava based. The cassava value chain was also marked by weak governance within (i.e. self-regulation) and outside (e.g. laws, rules and regulations). The study which sought to assess the role of the actors along the cassava value chain in the Mampong Municipality was conducted using both formal and informal open and close ended questionnaires with cross section of the people in the municipality as well as observation techniques for the primary data. Also secondary data from publications, published and unpublished research documents were sourced. In all 75 farmer households, 10 cassava processors and some support service providers were interviewed using the quota sampling technique. Also 12 farmer field fora sites and upgrading of one cassava processing centre into a good practice centre which serve as the medium through which farmers, processors and other stakeholders learn to share knowledge and skills using focus group discussion approach. For instance, the respondents asserted that, the introduction of new and improved roasting stove has increased the output per worker per day from 45 kilo grams to 100 kilo grams which was about 150 % increase. In relation to cassava production, an acre of land produces between 18-21 tons which was far higher previous output of 9-12 tons per acre. The study revealed that, the challenges facing the cassava value chain industry in the municipality includes; weak governance for associations, low working capital, no grading and standards for processes cassava products, and inefficient market for the cassava produce. It was recommended that, producers and processors as well as MoFA agencies in the cassava industry in the municipality should endeavour to build strong farmer groups/associations and intensify marketing search to identify new markets by adopting promotional strategies and distribution channels, for instance, liaison with pharmaceuticals, textile industry and the brewery companies to supply cassava flour to them in large quantities.
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‎ ‎A thesis submitted to the Department of Marketing ‎and Corporate Strategy of Kwame Nkrumah ‎University of Science ‎and Technology in ‎a partial fulfillment of the ‎award of the degree of Masters of ‎Business ‎Administration (Strategic Management ‎and Consulting),
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