Cashew farmers in the Bono Region are renewing demands for a stable, government-backed producer price for raw cashew nuts, arguing that unpredictable pricing and unfair market practices continue to erode their earnings.
The farmers say the current system under which the Tree Crops Development Authority (TCDA) sets only a minimum producer price each season does little to protect them from buyers who allegedly pay far below the benchmark.
They contend that a fixed price structure, similar to the cocoa sector’s model, would shield them from exploitation and ensure predictable incomes.
The renewed call emerged during a leadership and advocacy training held in Sampa as part of the “Amplifying the Voices of Cashew Farmers” project implemented by Cashew Watch Ghana.
The programme brought together cooperative leaders to build negotiation skills and strengthen their role in influencing cashew sector policies.
Daniel Munufie, Chairman of the Bono Cashew Farmers Cooperative, said producers continue to suffer significant financial losses due to opportunistic underpricing by some aggregators.
“For the 2024/2025 season, the minimum price was GH¢15 per kilogramme, yet some buyers still offered as low as GH¢5, without any justifiable reason,” he said.
Munufie also raised concerns over widespread manipulation of weighing scales in the local trade. According to him, some itinerant buyers deliberately alter their scales to cheat farmers, a practice that remains rampant despite regulations restricting cashew aggregation to licenced firms.
He noted that the presence of unregistered buyers has worsened the situation, contributing to both income losses and rising incidents of cashew theft in producing communities.
He called on the TCDA to strengthen enforcement, crack down on illegal aggregators and ensure that only certified, standardised scales are used in the domestic cashew trade.
Speaking at the event, Bono Regional Director of the Department of Cooperatives, Francisca Adorkor-Khein, urged cooperative leaders to position themselves as credible advocates capable of engaging both farmers and institutions.
She emphasised communication, transparency and participatory leadership as essential traits for building stronger cooperatives.
Raphael Godlove Ahenu, National Coordinator of Cashew Watch Ghana, said building leadership and advocacy capacity among farmers is crucial to improving their bargaining power.
He noted that volatile pricing, limited access to market information and weak negotiating strength continue to disadvantage producers making targeted training programmes key to driving meaningful reforms in the cashew value chain.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
