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The low level of engineering technology inputs into agriculture is a major constraint hindering the modernization of agriculture and food production in many parts of Africa. Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz), is a climate resilient crop grown by smallholder farmers in most sub-Saharan Africa countries. Cassava provides dietary carbohydrates for over 800 million people globally. It is also a bio-fuel source that can replace fossil fuels. Africa is not visible in the cassava industrialisation and export market because it depends on over-aged farmers, who use manual tools and traditional production methods that do not attract the youth. One major challenge to all year-round cassava production for industry and export in Africa is the time consuming, labour intensive and expensive manual harvesting method. Manual cassava harvesting is full of drudgery and takes 5 to 10 minutes to uproot a plant, depending on soil condition. The main objective of this paper is to demonstrate and popularise an innovative mechanical cassava harvester developed in Ghana (OAPI patent No. 17219), to mechanise and modernise cassava production in Africa. The device harvests at a rate of one plant per second or less especially when the ground is hard. For the innovation to be disseminated successfully, tractor operators and smallholder farmers must be trained to acquire mechanised production methods. Cassava farmers need to change from planting in the traditional haphazard manner to adopt row and ridge planting to comply with mechanical harvesting at plant maturity. The device is to up-scale and increase cassava production for food security, industrial use and export in Africa.

THE TEK MECHANICAL CASSAVA HARVESTER DEVELOPMENT IN GHANA – CHALLENGES, OPPORTUNITIES AND PROSPECTS FOR CASSAVA PRODUCTION IN AFRICA