Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, the Member of Parliament for Techiman North, has urged the government to establish a guaranteed pricing system for cashew farmers, similar to the model used for cocoa.
Speaking in Parliament on November 4, 2021, she highlighted that despite the significant expansion of Ghana’s cashew industry (Techiman North alone produces about 54,405 metric tons annually), major price fluctuations create uncertainty, forcing farmers to let their nuts rot when prices drop as low as GHC1 per kilogram.
The MP expressed frustration that the Tree Crop Regulatory Act (Act 1010), passed in 2019 to manage crops like cashew, has had no discernible impact at the regional level. She argued that the lack of a standardized pricing mechanism fosters disputes among farmers, buyers, exporters, and processors.
Mrs. Ofosu-Adjare stressed that cashew, as a valuable tree crop and export commodity, deserves the same stable pricing structure as cocoa. Beyond pricing, she called on the government to:
- Attract investment for value addition so Ghana can process cashews instead of exporting only raw nuts.
- Strengthen the regional presence of the regulatory authority.
- Provide subsidies and grants to farmers.
Citing an Export Promotion Council report, the MP noted an untapped potential of $600 million in the sector, emphasizing the necessity of government support to ensure the industry’s continued growth and sustainability.
