Source:tntnewspapergh.com

The Tree Crops Development Authority (TCDA) has partnered with Cashew Watch Ghana, a civil society organisation based in Sunyani, to expand advocacy and sensitisation across the cashew value chain as part of efforts to promote sustainable growth in the sector.

The partnership was formalised during a meeting between the two organisations and representatives of cashew farmers in Accra.

Under the collaboration, the two institutions will educate key actors in the value chain including farmers, aggregators, processors and exporters on issues such as pricing systems, production practices, value addition, job creation and trade regulations.

The Chief Executive Officer of TCDA, Dr. Andy Osei Okrah commended the advocacy work of Cashew Watch and other civil society groups involved in the tree crops sector. He said stronger collaboration among stakeholders was essential to develop Ghana’s non-traditional export commodities and increase foreign exchange earnings while creating jobs.

The TCDA was established under the Tree Crops Development Authority Act, 2019 (Act 1010) to regulate and promote the production, processing and trade of six major tree crops — cashew, shea, mango, coconut, rubber and oil palm — as part of efforts to diversify the country’s agricultural exports.
Cashew has emerged as one of Ghana’s most important non-traditional export crops, supporting the livelihoods of thousands of smallholder farmers, particularly in the Bono, Bono East, Northern and Savannah regions. The crop is also regarded as a key opportunity for job creation through local processing and value addition.
However, farmers have recently called for the establishment of a separate board dedicated solely to cashew, similar to the structure under which Ghana Cocoa Board regulates the cocoa industry.
Responding to the proposal, Dr. Okrah said creating a new institution separate from TCDA would not necessarily solve the challenges facing the cashew sector. “All the proposals by the farmers are already enshrined in the TCDA Act. The most important thing now is how to implement them, not the formation of a separate board,” he said.
He urged farmers to exercise restraint, noting that the government, through the Authority, was implementing measures to strengthen the industry.
“These include the distribution of free improved cashew seedlings to boost production, as well as the provision of farm tools and equipment such as chainsaw machines for pruning to improve farm management and productivity,” he said.
Dr. Okrah said continued collaboration with farmer groups, civil society organisations, and private sector actors would help address structural challenges in the industry and position Ghana’s cashew sector for long-term growth.
Touching on value addition, the Chief Executive Officer said plans were far advanced to roll out comprehensive measures to enhance domestic processing in order to discourage the excessive export of raw cashew nuts. He added that the initiative would also promote the processing of cashew apples, which are often left to rot due to limited skills, technology, and equipment among producers.
He therefore appealed to stakeholders across the value chain, particularly farmers, to embrace local processing to help create jobs and support the country’s broader industrialisation agenda.
The National Coordinator of Cashew Watch Ghana, Raphael Godlove Ahenu, urged the TCDA to remain committed to implementing policies and strategies aimed at transforming the cashew sector.

He noted that the industry remains a key source of livelihood for thousands of rural households and said farmers were looking forward to meaningful reforms that would improve incomes and strengthen the sector.