The platform, with over 170 members, includes researchers, food processors, technologists, energy and climate experts, academia and farmers and agro-input dealers.
It is a collaboration between the Institute of Applied Science and Technology of the University of Ghana, the Cassava Adding Value for Africa the Food Agricultural organisation and the Food Research Institute of the Council for Scientific and Industrial research.

The Director, Institute of Applied Science and Technology, Dr. David Dodoo-Arhin, speaking at the opening, said the development of good business proposals would help members access grants to expand their businesses to ensure food security.
He indicated that one of the key challenges confronting members was lack of access to funding which inhibits their their ability to penetrate the market.

Dr. Dodoo-Arhin said the platform was set up to establish an inclusive and dynamic industrial cassava value chain that would enable current and emerging industrial players seize local and international market opportunities.

He said as part of its mandate, the institute would serve as the platform for the transfer of knowledge technology and innovation development at the university to industry and communities.

“We are happy to be part of the platform which falls within the institute’s five priority areas of food processing, agribusiness and material technology, health and traditional medicine development manufacture, water and sanitation, sustainable exploitation and climate change mitigation”, he said.

Dr. Dodoo-Arhin noted that the successful implementation of the platforms business development plans would find answers to all pertinent issues to the whole cassava value chain.
A Senior Lecturer at the department of Marketing and Entrepreneurship, at the University of Ghana Business School (UGBS) Dr. Kwame Adom said a good business plan and proposal must identify business opportunities, be accurate and comprehensive, factual, able to research, penetrate the market and customers and be able to guide the team to attract top level management.

He said it must also be proactive and not reactive, determine the cost of the business as well as stimulate strategic thinking towards putting to better use limited available resources.
“A Good business plan must be clear, well researched, short and brief, comprehensive, proofed by experts, written by the owner of the business or a consultant and updated every two years”, he added.

By Lawrence Vomafa-Akpalu