New Uganda ethanol plant boosts local cassava prices three-fold

In Uganda, an $1.8 million cassava-based ethanol plant has boosted prices more than three-fold since coming online last year, supporting economic development for local farmers. A 2010 World Bank-funded project supporting cassava production in Eastern Africa boosted supplies but there was no market to feed into, weighing heavily on prices. Yields have jumped to more than 11 million metric tons annually from just 6 million tons before the project was implemented. Farmers are now able to build better houses and send their children to school.