Ghana, a tiny west African country, has taken an initiative to emerge as a major silk producer on the lines of China and India.
Interestingly, Ghana has taken technical assistance from India to develop sericulture industry. Although the African country currently could not produce cocoons in a large scale, it has laid a strong foundation with the help of Indian experts for the sericulture industry.
Sericulture was introduced in Ghana only in 1992. Within a short period, the country was able to learn silk producing techniques and now cocoon and silk processing factories have started coming up there, encouraging farmers to produce cocoons.
Infact in 2002, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) approved a project ‘Sericulture and Silk Processing Development’ and allocated $384,000 to develop the sericulture industry in Ghana. Among others, the project covered the services of international consultants specialised in cocoon production, cocoon processing and silk processing.
The overall objective of the project was to assist small-scale farmers in cocoon and raw silk production through provision of basic techniques and essential equipment and tools for silkworm rearing and cocoon processing while ensuring additional employment and income opportunities available to them.
Accordingly Ghana has primarily availed itself of services from the Indian experts like Lakshmipathaiah and Chikke Gowda of Bangalore-based International Sericulture Alliance, a non-government and non-profit organisation.
Machineries for the silk processing facility that was set up in Ghana were imported from India and the plant has started procuring cocoons from Ghanaian farmer at $5 per kg currently, according to a paper presented to the India’s Central Sericulture Board by Paul K Ntaanu, founder and technical director of the Sericulture Promotion and Development Association (SPDA), the sole organisation for developing and promoting sericulture and silk industry in Ghana.
SPDA has more than 2,500 farmers and industrialists as members. In fact, the Indian government sponsored Ntaanu to study sericulture and silk industry in India in early 1990s.
Around 16 years ago, silkworm rearing was started on a pilot basis at Akwapim Mampong region in Ghana. Now it has spread to other parts of the country such as Yeji, Bogoso, Daboasi, Peki, Prestia, Odumasi-krobo, Akyem Sekyere, Ankwrasu, Tamale and Koforidua.
The country is also facing some practical problems in expanding sericulture industry. According to Ntaanu, the problems include lack of high yielding and drought resistant mulberry varieties, systematic egg supply programme, and poor infrastructure facilities in segments like rearing houses and equipment.
Now SPDA has also ventured into non-mulbery silkworm rearing. Cawssava, the host plant, is a staple food crop in Ghana. The crop has been grown for starch production and export. Cassava leaves are being used to produce silkworms.