The Chief Executive Officer of the Tree Crops Development Authority (TCDA), Dr. Andy Osei Okrah, has called for greater investment in technology, productivity and financing to strengthen Ghana’s cashew processing industry and make it more competitive.
He said the country’s ability to derive greater economic value from cashew will depend on stronger collaboration among farmers, processors, financial institutions and development partners, particularly as the industry seeks to move beyond the production of raw cashew nuts.
Dr. Osei Okrah made the call at a roundtable discussion organised by the Association of Cashew Processors Ghana (ACPG) on the theme, “Building a Competitive and Sustainable Cashew Value Chain Together – The Case of Ghana.”
He said processors must increase investment in modern technology, operational efficiency and innovation to improve their competitiveness, while farmers must focus on raising productivity and the quality of raw cashew nuts supplied to processors.
The TCDA CEO also urged financial institutions to provide financing tailored to the needs of businesses operating within the cashew value chain, stressing that “financial institutions must provide appropriate financing, while development partners must help de-risk investments.”
Access to appropriate financing remains important for processors seeking to expand capacity, acquire equipment and improve production efficiency, while development partners can help reduce investment risks and encourage more private capital into the sector.
The comments point to the need for Ghana to strengthen the commercial links between cashew production and processing, allowing more of the value generated from the crop to remain within the domestic economy.
Cashew processing can create additional opportunities across manufacturing, logistics, packaging and trade, while providing a larger market for farmers who supply processors with raw nuts.
Dr. Osei Okrah said the TCDA would provide the policy, regulatory and institutional support required to streamline the industry and work with the ACPG and other stakeholders to address bottlenecks affecting the value chain.
He noted that stronger regulation and coordination would be necessary to create a more predictable operating environment for businesses and support investment in processing capacity.
The roundtable brought together ACPG President Antonio Manuel Caramelo Raposo, development partners, government agencies, association leaders and other stakeholders to discuss challenges including raw material supply, financing, technology, quality standards, regulation and market access.
The push for an increased processing capacity also aligns with the government’s Agriculture for Economic Transformation Agenda (AETA), which seeks to increase value addition and strengthen the contribution of agriculture to economic growth and livelihoods.
