The Ministry of Food and Agriculture has advocated for increased investment in cashew processing to help Africa retain more value from its production and create jobs across the agricultural value chain.

The Ministry says Africa continues to produce a significant share of the world’s cashew nuts but captures a smaller proportion of the value generated through processing and downstream activities.

Speaking on behalf of the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Dr. Harry Bleppony, at the African Cashew Alliance Conference, the Deputy Director of Agriculture said investment in modern processing facilities, infrastructure, technology, and logistics was critical to transforming the industry.

He said, “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.”

The Deputy Director said processing should not be viewed solely as an industrial activity, but also as an opportunity for rural economic transformation.

“Cashew processing can create jobs for women and youth, stimulate local economies, and generate additional demands for locally produced raw materials,” he said.

He noted that Ghana’s cashew sector had expanded considerably and become an important source of livelihood and income for farming communities, particularly in the Bono East, Ahafo, and Savannah regions.

The speaker said government was committed to building a productive, competitive, sustainable, and value-added cashew industry, with emphasis on improving productivity, quality, and market access.

He identified improved planting materials, good agricultural practices, farmer training, and stronger extension services as key measures needed to improve cashew production.

The Deputy Director also stressed the importance of proper harvesting, drying, and storage, warning that poor post-harvest practices could reduce 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) has stated it is intensifying efforts to regulate Ghana’s cashew sector from production through to processing and export, as the country seeks to bring greater structure and value to the industry.

Deputy Chief Executive Officer in charge of Operations at the TCDA, Dr. Rich Kofi Kofituo, said the Authority is working to ensure that activities across the cashew value chain are properly regulated and coordinated.

He said prior to 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.