Ghana Grows Millions of Tonnes of Cassava—but Exports Almost None

Across farms in Ghana, cassava grows in abundance. The crop is deeply embedded in the country’s agricultural system, feeding households, supporting rural livelihoods and sustaining traditional food industries.

Yet despite producing nearly 28 million tonnes annually, Ghana exports only a tiny fraction of its output—revealing a striking gap between production strength and global market participation.

Analysts say closing that gap could unlock a share of the $5.6 billion global cassava industry, transforming one of Ghana’s most common crops into a far more powerful economic driver.

A Cassava Giant With Limited Export Reach

Cassava production in Ghana has expanded significantly over the past decade, cementing the country’s status as one of the world’s leading producers.

Recent estimates indicate that Ghana produced about 27.9 million metric tonnes of cassava in 2024, ranking it fourth globally by production volume.

Worldwide cassava production is estimated at roughly 330 million tonnes annually, meaning Ghana contributes approximately 8 percent of global supply.

Within Ghana’s agricultural economy, the crop plays an especially prominent role.

Cassava engages more than 70 percent of the country’s farmers, making it one of the most widely cultivated crops in the country. Economists estimate it contributes around 22 percent of agricultural GDP, reinforcing its status as a cornerstone of Ghana’s food system.

But the story changes dramatically once the crop leaves the farm.

The Export Gap

Despite its enormous output, Ghana’s presence in international cassava markets remains limited.

Export revenues from cassava products reached about $51 million in 2023, placing the country 12th among global exporters.

The physical export volume tells an even more striking story.

Ghana exported just 102 tonnes of cassava products in 2023—a tiny figure compared with the country’s nearly 28 million tonnes of annual production.

The majority of Ghana’s cassava output never reaches international markets.

Instead, it is consumed domestically or processed into staple foods such as gari, fufu and cassava dough, which form a core part of the national diet.

Domestic Consumption Dominates

Food security considerations partly explain the imbalance.

Cassava remains one of the most accessible and affordable calorie sources for millions of households across Ghana, providing dietary stability in both rural and urban communities.

As a result, much of the crop is absorbed within local food systems long before it can enter export channels.

But economists say structural barriers within the value chain are also limiting Ghana’s ability to compete internationally.

Processing Bottlenecks

One of the most frequently cited constraints is limited industrial processing capacity.

While small-scale cassava processing is widespread across rural communities, large-scale facilities capable of producing export-grade cassava derivatives remain relatively scarce.

International buyers often require consistent product specifications, including standardized starch quality, moisture levels and packaging requirements.

Meeting those standards demands industrial infrastructure that is still developing within Ghana’s cassava sector.

Agricultural economists argue that expanding processing capacity, storage facilities and quality assurance systems would significantly improve the country’s competitiveness in global markets.

A Rapidly Expanding Global Industry

Globally, cassava is no longer used solely as a staple food.

The crop has become an increasingly important industrial raw material.

Cassava starch is widely used in the food industry, while cassava derivatives are increasingly applied in animal feed, ethanol production, pharmaceuticals and biodegradable materials.

Demand is also growing in the gluten-free food segment, where cassava flour has become a popular substitute for wheat.

These developments have helped expand the global cassava industry to an estimated $5.6 billion market.

Countries that dominate the sector have moved far beyond raw production.

Global Competitors Set the Pace

Several major producers have developed sophisticated cassava processing industries.

Nigeria and Democratic Republic of the Congo are among the world’s largest producers, while Thailand has emerged as a dominant exporter of cassava starch and chips used in global food and industrial supply chains.

Thailand’s success in particular highlights the importance of value addition.

Instead of exporting raw cassava roots, the country built a powerful export industry around processed cassava products, allowing it to capture significantly higher value from the crop.

Ghana’s Untapped Opportunity

Within the regional market across Africa and the Middle East, Ghana’s cassava economy is estimated at about $760 million, representing roughly 14 percent of the regional cassava market.

Agricultural analysts believe that figure could grow substantially if Ghana invests more heavily in industrial-scale cassava processing.

Potential growth areas include:

• Cassava starch manufacturing

• Industrial flour production

• Cassava chips for animal feed

• Bio-ethanol production

• Pharmaceutical-grade starch derivatives

Developing these industries would allow Ghana to export higher-value products rather than raw cassava roots.

From Staple Crop to Export Industry

For policymakers and investors, the challenge is not increasing cassava production.

Ghana already produces more than enough.

The real opportunity lies in transforming cassava from a subsistence and staple crop into an export-oriented agro-industrial product.

That shift would require coordinated investment in processing infrastructure, export logistics, quality certification systems and international market development.

If those elements align, cassava could become one of Ghana’s most significant agricultural export earners.

The Road Ahead

The paradox of Ghana’s cassava sector is clear: the country produces vast quantities of the crop yet captures only a small share of its global economic value.

Closing that gap could help diversify agricultural exports, create rural jobs and generate new foreign exchange earnings.

For now, Ghana remains one of the world’s cassava giants.

The next challenge is ensuring that the crop’s economic potential grows just as strongly as its production.

Source: Accra Street Journal 

Last Updated on March 16, 2026 by Samuel Kwame Boadu

Samuel Kwame Boadu

Samuel Kwame Boadu is a Ghanaian media entrepreneur and storyteller with a passion for amplifying urban voices and uncovering everyday truths. He is the Editor-in-Chief and Founder of Accra Street Journal, a dynamic digital platform dedicated to capturing the pulse of Ghana’s capital—its people, culture, challenges, business, sports and innovations.

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