ENB planning cassava project

 EAST New Britain is now considering possibilities of downstream processing of cassava.

The provincial assembly has endorsed a submission made by the chairman of livestock and fisheries, Bernard Kulap, last week to allow for a feasability study on downstream processing cassava. The study is estimated to cost K1 million.

In his submission, Kulap said there has been a need for a deliberate response by the province’s agriculture sector.

He said the ENB cassava project was a response to the provincial Strategic Development Plan 2011-21, adding ideas and vision contained in the plan must be adequately translated to real projects and programmes for tangible results.

He said the feasability study was necessary to identify the economic viability if the project and breakdown point where the province can reduce cost to make the project viable.

Kulap added that this will make it possible for the national government through the department of agriculture and livestock, trade and industry and department of planning and monitoring to further screen and deliberate on the viability of the project and funding support as the initial commitment of the government towards this project under the PPP concept.

He said cassava can produce high tuber on fertile soil in ENB and with its high yielding crop it can produce up to 11-15 tonnes of tuber per hectare.

He added that since it has been estimated that per hecatare earnings will be between K3000 and K3500, cassava will be an alternate crop for the province.