The General Secretary of Ghana Cashew Farmers Association, Mr. Clement Anane is appealing to the government to provide more support for cashew farmers instead of other groups in the cashew production chain, thus, the market players.
According to him, without the farmers, there will be no cashew industry, so they, the farmers, must be taken good care of rather than processors and buyers.
He told Oyerepa News’ Emmanuel Oduro that the composition of the Tree Crop Authority (the body set up to regulate the production and pricing of cashew nuts in the country) is skewed against the farmers as it is crowded with the market players instead of the farmers.
Mr. Clement Anane made this known when members of Ghana Agricultural and Rural Development Journalist Association (GARDJA) undertook a field trip to Kabile, a cashew farming community near Sampa in the Jaman North District of Bono region to interact with cashew farmers about their challenges.
Mr. Anane disclosed at a point in time, the Association wanted to withdraw its members from the Tree Crop Authority but upon second thought, they decided to remain on the Board and fight for their rights.
He said if the government really wants to achieve its target of three hundred thousand (300,000) tons of cashew nuts by 2027, then they must focus more on cashew farmers rather than the market players.
Mr. Clement Anane further urged the government to help cashew farmers with equipment like Chain Saw machines and Slashers which they will use to prune their farms.
He also called on Extension Service officers to educate them about modern cashew farming technologies to help them increase their yield per acre of land.
