Cultivation of cashew in Ghana is receiving greatest attention by both government and the private sector, as the government has laid the foundation for its commercialization.
The government is therefore supporting District Assemblies in the country with cashew nut spicies to enable them produce in large quantities for both local and international markets.
In view of this, Government of Ghana has launched a 10 year development plan and a Cashew Board to oversee its full implementation within the next decade.
Some District Assemblies in the Ashanti region have taken a keen interest in the cashew production and are therefore supporting their citizenry with cashew seedlings.
One of such districts is Bosome Freho District, where the assembly has nursed about 80,000 cashew seedlings for free distribution to all prospective cashew farmers in the district.
The District is located in the south-eastern part of the Ashanti Region and lies within Latitude 6º 00’N and 6º 26’N and Longitudes 1º 00 W and 1º 30 W. It covers a total land area of about 630 sq. km. [But] the former Ashanti Regional Director of Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA), Mr. Kwaku Minkah Fordjour, has cautioned Bosome Freho District assembly to stay-off from major cashew production.
According to him, the area is not friendly for such production, hence his humble appeal to the assembly to desist from venturing into it.
However, he wants, the Assembly to supply cashew seedlings to offinso North district, which is notably good for commercial cashew farming.
Speaking on Oyerepa 100.7 FM Breakfast show weekly Agriculture segment, implored the country to take cashew production as full commercial farming and business, saying it has the potential to turn the economy of the country around.
The District which is located in the forest zone of Ghana has a layer of ancient rocks which contains large amounts of quartzite made up of granite and gneiss.
He identifies 5 areas in the Ashanti region where cashew farming, is conducive and that is Ejura, Kumawu, Sekyere Afram Plains, Asante Akim Agogo, and Offinso North Districts.
