The gari producing community of Abrewantwa in the Oti Region is calling on the government, non-governmental organizations, and philanthropists to come to their aid. Gari processors in Abrewantwa have lamented over the lack of appropriate gari-making machines needed for the production of gari, which has made their work very difficult.
“We all know that gari processing is predominantly female-dominated, and without the gari grating machine, we are subjected to torture when grating the cassava, and we also suffer a lot from fire burns. Because we don’t have the machines to process gari, we are, however, calling on the government and other benevolent organizations to come to our aid by supporting us with a gari processing machine,” a female processor said in an interview with Agriwatchgh News.
The processors also stated that their sales have reduced significantly as a result of the increasing cost of cassava and the hard economic challenges the country is facing. “We are running at a loss because the price of cassava needed for the production of gari is too much, so we cannot afford to buy the needed quantity to be able to produce in large quantity. We barely make enough money to feed our families,” they added.
Gari is a popular delicacy consumed by people in West African countries. Gari is made from fresh cassava, which is grated, and the excess liquid is then squeezed out. The remaining cassava is then fried over an open fire, on a broad metal pan that has been greased with a little oil.
The gari producers in Abrewantwa are hoping that the government and other organizations will provide them with the necessary equipment and support to help them increase their productivity and improve their livelihoods. They believe that with the right support, they can continue to produce high-quality gari for their customers and contribute to the development of their community.
BY :AGRIWATCH REPORTER
