Ministry of Trade moves to boost cashew production

The Ministry of Trade and Industry says it is putting in place an inventory system for cashew processors and will collaborate with the private sector to roll out a programme to boost cashew production in the country.

Mr. Kwesi Ofori Antwi, a Director at the Trade Department of the Ministry, said that the move is part of government’s initiatives to make the cashew industry viable in the country and other West Africa countries.

“The ministry has been engaging with some stakeholders from all sectors, based on a proposal we received from the cashew farmers association. We are setting up a board to regulate pricing and even drafting a cashew policy for the industry. We believe this will promote sanity and enhance productivity,” Mr. Antwi stated.

“What the farmers were not happy with was the fluctuations in the pricing and we have engaged them on that. The minister was in the Brong Ahafo Region and we are in serious engagements. We have a market for this produce because the farmers produce 70,000 raw cashew nuts and the market demand is 68,000. So, there is market for it,” he stated.