Agro2,a cassava producer located in Veraguas,Panama,is expanding its current cassava production,in order to meet the increased demand.
The company is currently constructing a large cassava processing facility,which will produce 2 tons of cassava flour and 7,500 liters of ethanol per day.
To match the large-scale processing,Agro2 has increased its cassava plantation from 30 to 100 hectares.In cooperation with local farmers,Agro2 plans to increase production further to 380 hectares by 2013 and up to 700 hectares by 2016.
Agro2 founder and director Frans Van Hulle said that cassava has the potential to generate employment and to offer a viable fuel alternative to dwindling non-renewable resources.
In addition,the company noted that it has been testing 13 cassava varieties on yield and starch potential,and has decided to go ahead with three varieties that have shown the greatest potential for industrial use and are most suitable for the region's climate and soil.
Cassava is the third most important calorie source in the tropics and about 600 million people in Africa,Asia and Latin America depend on cassava for food and income,according to the International Fund for Agricultural Development(IFAD).
