About 100 cashew farmers from selected cashew-growing communities in the Bono Region have received training in cashew processing, packaging, and value addition to improve their incomes and reduce post-harvest losses.
The beneficiaries were drawn from the Jaman North, Tain and Banda districts, as well as the Jaman South Municipality.
The training focused on processing raw cashew apples into juice, preservation techniques, packaging, marketing strategies, networking opportunities, and entrepreneurship development within the cashew value chain.
Organised by Cashew Watch Ghana (CWG), an advocacy group addressing challenges within the cashew sector, the programme formed part of the implementation of the “Amplifying the Voices of Cashew Farmers Project, Phase Two.”
The project is being funded by the STAR-Ghana Foundation to strengthen advocacy, improve farmer participation in policy discussions, and promote sustainable development within Ghana’s cashew industry.
Speaking at the opening session in Sampa, Mr Simon Asore, Functional Steering Committee Chairperson of CWG, said the initiative formed part of broader efforts to transform the cashew sector through value addition and sustainable utilisation of cashew resources.
He explained that equipping farmers with processing and entrepreneurial skills would enable them to maximise the economic benefits of the cashew tree while creating additional income opportunities for households and communities.
Mr Asore observed that for years, large quantities of cashew apples had been left to waste in many farming communities despite their nutritional and commercial value.
According to him, many farmers focus mainly on harvesting the nut while the fruit rots during the harvesting season.
He said CWG was collaborating with stakeholders to promote innovation, improve local processing capacity, and create alternative income streams, particularly for women and young people in cashew-growing communities.
Mr Asore noted that adding value to raw cashew products would not only reduce waste but also enhance household incomes, create employment opportunities, and strengthen local economies.
He stressed that Ghana’s cashew sector possessed enormous untapped potential beyond the export of raw nuts and called for greater investment in local processing.
The training, he said, was intended to help farmers understand that every part of the cashew tree carried economic value that could be harnessed for additional income generation.
Mr Asore further stated that empowering farmers with processing skills would help them build resilience against fluctuating market prices and improve long-term sustainability within the sector.
Some beneficiaries described the training as timely, insightful, and beneficial, expressing appreciation to CWG and the STAR-Ghana Foundation for the initiative.
They pledged to apply the knowledge acquired to improve their livelihoods and called for continued technical support, access to processing equipment, and ready markets for processed cashew products.
