Cashew farmers appeal to government for loans

NALERIGU, Ghana, August 27 -- Cashew farmers in three districts in the Northern and Upper East regions have appealed to the government to find an alternative means of providing them with loans to expand their farms.

They noted that they were not included in the recent African Development Fund (ADF) loan package to cashew farmers in other parts of the country.

Mr Yamtse Michael, Co-ordinator of the Cashew Plantation Development Project (CPDP), made the appeal on behalf of farmers in the Bawku East, Garu/Timpane and East Mamprusi districts.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency at Nalerigu on Monday he commended the government for its assistance to cashew farmers and said the crop has great economic potential for the country.

Mr Michael called for a special package for tree growers, especially in the Upper East Region to combat desertification.

He said the CPDP has 2,000 cashew farmers in the East Mamprusi District alone.