Cashew Watch Ghana (CWG), a civil society organisation, has begun a programme to assist cashew growers in Nsawkaw, Tain District, Bono area.
The project’s goal is to promote the growth and development of cashew processing, pricing, and answers to farmers’ problems, as well as to coordinate their grievances.
Mr. Raphael Godlove Ahenu, the convener of the organization, stated that the effort was formed to promote revolution in the commodities arena through advocacy for the formation and execution of national policies.
It also intends to take initiatives to transform the cashew industry into a vehicle for rapid socioeconomic growth and development, as well as to alleviate cashew industry issues.
He stated that the organization wants to lobby for a competitive price for the product for the benefit of all value chain actors, as well as to build a strong association to bring the difficulties in the cashew sector to the attention of the government.
“Ghana’s 2021 statistics for 1st quarter alone shows the government was able to raise an estimated amount of USD$128 only from export, the 10-year cashew development plan will meet the expectations if the government is able to comply to the implementation of the projected”, he added.
“Amplifying the Voices of Cashew Farmers Project”, the theme for the launch was to seek for the growth of cashew business in exhibiting the voices of cashew farmers concerning pricing, to truce the cashew cooperatives to form strong association to amplify the challenges in the cashew business.
“We are urging the government to implement measures to restrict foreign buyers on the farm gate to buy the cashews and make sure to implement the 10 year development plan for the cashew growers as the cocoa growers”, Mr. Raphael said.
According to him, the CWG strategic monitoring plan includes all political parties and their cashew sector interventions in their manifestos, which would be followed and monitored to put pressure on the government to ensure the cashew sector interventions are carried out.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
