(AGI) Accra, Aug 13 - An exhibition and an internationalconference on the use and marketing of cassava, which is animportant food source for many countries in the southernhemisphere, will be held from Sept. 13 to 18 in Accra, thecapital of Ghana. The executive director of the Ghana CassavaCentre of Excellence, William Agyei-Manu, sees the two eventsas an opportunity to bring together researchers, policy makersand industrialists for an exchange on the supply chain of thetuber. The sector is "very promising" and could support thecountry's recovery, he said. Ghana, according to Agyei-Manu,could develop a sustainable cassava programme comprising theadequate availability of raw materials, sound post-harvestmanagement practices and increased processing of fresh cassavaroots. Mr Agyei-Manu said there should be a national policy onhigh quality cassava flour, which could be mixed with wheatflour to boost the rural economies. More than 90 percent ofsmall landowners are involved in the cassava supply chain, butthey are not always involved in marketing channels andagro-processing industries. The international conference couldtherefore be an opportunity to develop the sector. Cassava isthe fourth most important crop in developing countries. Withenormous potential, it is the cheapest source of starch inexistence and is used in more than 300 industrial products. Oneof these promising applications is the fermentation of thestarch to produce the biofuel ethanol.. .