Dr John Gatsi, an economist and senior lecturer at the University of Cape Coast (UCC) who made the call at the second Gari Festival at Ehi in the Ketu North District of the Volta Region.

“We are gradually losing the fight against the threat of unsustainable farming as the challenge of aged farmers remains largely unresolved,” he said.

Dr Gatsi who was the guest speaker at the event advised the government to consciously motivate the youth into cassava cultivation and processing.

He explained that even though cassava production was key it largely remained a marginalised crop by food policy makers.

He further advised the chiefs and people of Ehi  to ensure that they improve the gross product worth of cassava by diversifying and creating value for tapioca, yakayake ,and medicinal value of cassava.

He also asked the people to create mini market for gari during the festival to allow visitors buy their produce. Dr. Gatsi asked Ghanaian entrepreneurs to be active in the food crop production and processing sector to improve on the attractiveness of the sector.

He described investment in cassava cultivation and processing as largely promising but untapped.