The Ministry of Food and Agriculture has called for increased investment in cashew processing across Africa, saying the continent must do more to retain the value generated from its cashew production.
The Ministry said although Africa produces a significant share of the world’s cashew nuts, it continues to capture a smaller portion of the value created through processing and other downstream activities.
Speaking on behalf of the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Dr Harry Bleppony, at the African Cashew Alliance Conference, a Deputy Director of Agriculture said greater investment in modern processing facilities, infrastructure, technology and logistics was needed to transform the industry.
“The greatest opportunity before Africa’s cashew industry is value addition. Over the years, Africa has exported large quantities of raw cashew nuts whilst importing processed cashew products that could have been produced within our own economies. We must reverse this trend,” he said.
He said cashew processing should also be seen as a means of transforming rural economies, particularly by creating jobs for women and young people and increasing demand for locally produced raw materials.
Ghana’s cashew sector, he noted, has expanded considerably over the years and become an important source of income and livelihood for farming communities, particularly in the Bono East, Ahafo and Savannah regions.
He said government remained committed to building a productive, competitive and sustainable cashew industry, with a strong focus on value addition, improved productivity, quality and market access.
He identified the use of improved planting materials, good agricultural practices, farmer training and stronger extension services as important measures for increasing production.
The Deputy Director also stressed the need for proper harvesting, drying and storage, warning that poor post-harvest practices could affect the quality and market value of cashew nuts.
“Quality must become a shared responsibility across the entire cashew value chain,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Tree Crops Development Authority (TCDA) says it is intensifying efforts to regulate Ghana’s cashew sector from production through to processing and export.
Deputy Chief Executive Officer in charge of Operations at the TCDA, Dr Rich Kofi Kofituo, said the Authority was working to ensure that activities across the cashew value chain were properly regulated and coordinated.
According to him, before the establishment of the TCDA’s regulatory framework, much of the activity in the cashew sector was driven by private actors without a single authority overseeing the entire value chain.
“Now that is what we are trying to do, to ensure that we regulate the space and ensure that everything happens in a structured manner,” Dr Kofituo said.
