Ghana: Cashew farmers call for the establishment of a Board

Mr. Daniel Kwadwo Tewiah, Chairman of Brong-Ahafo Cashew Farmers Association, has appealed to the Government to establish a marketing board to be in charge of the purchase of cashew nuts, to ensure a stable price for the produce. He said the increased rate at which cashew nuts were being produced called for the establishment of such a body, to salvage cashew farmers from middlemen, who were determining the price of the nuts thereby cheating the farmers. Mr. Tewiah was addressing more than 1,000 cashew farmers from Nkoranza and Berekum in Brong Ahafo Region, at a forum, sponsored by the Business Advocacy Challenge Fund on the theme: “Advocating for Government to intervene in the fixation of cashew purchasing in Ghana”. He said the association was inaugurated in Sunyani in 2009 with an initial membership of 600 cashew farmers and the unstable price for their produce has been a major challenge.

Mr. Tewiah appealed to the Government to support cashew nuts farmers as it was doing for cocoa and shea nut farmers. Mr. John Yaw Akparep, business service provider and consultant of the Fund, called on cashew farmers in the region to register with the association. About 15,000 tons of cashew nuts were produced in the region last year and about 10,000 people cultivated the nuts in the area, he said. Mr Akparep said the association would liaise with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Ministry of Trade and Industry the Parliamentary Select Committee on Agriculture to address problems facing cashew farmers. Nana Okofo Agyapong III, Adontenhene of Nkoranza Traditional Area appealed to all cashew farmers in the region to join the group. Mr. J.E.K. Amankona, Chairman of Berekum Cashew Farmers Association, asked the farmers to increase the production of cashew nuts.

Source: vibeghana.com