Ireland-funded cassava flour and industrial starch feasibility study launched in the Bono Region

** Ghana's agricultural sector is witnessing renewed foreign interest in downstream processing, with Irish-backed agribusiness firm The Cowboys Ventures launching an ambitious feasibility study into cassava flour and industrial starch production in the Bono Region. The six-month assessment, targeting the Seikwa–Tainso area in Tain District, signals growing recognition among international investors that Ghana's competitive advantage extends beyond raw commodity export toward higher-margin processed goods. The move reflects a significant strategic shift in how European capital approaches African agricultural development. Rather than focusing solely on primary production, investors increasingly recognize that value-addition processing offers superior margins and supply chain resilience. Cassava—a resilient, drought-tolerant crop already cultivated across Ghana's agricultural belt—has emerged as a particularly attractive candidate for industrial processing. Global cassava starch demand reached approximately 9.5 million tonnes in 2022, with industrial applications spanning food manufacturing, textiles, pharmaceuticals, and biofuel production. Ghana produces an estimated 2.2 million tonnes of cassava annually, yet historically exports minimal processed cassava products. This structural gap represents both a market inefficiency and an investment opportunity. The Bono Region, Ghana's second-largest cassava-producing zone, currently lacks modern processing infrastructure capable of capturing international markets. Establishing a commercial-scale operation addresses this infrastructure deficit while positioning Ghana within regional supply