Cashew farmers in the Bono Region are appealing to government to as a matter of urgency ban the transit of cashew nuts from Ivorian processors (Cote d’Ivoire) through the borders of the country to the Tema Harbor.
According to the cashew farmers, allowing Ivorian heavy trucks with cashew nuts en-route the country’s borders through to the harbor alone will affect the cost of operations and also shoot up the price of processed cashew for the local and export markets.
A representative of the cashew farmers in Aboabo no 4 of the Dormaa Central Municipality of the Bono Region, Nana Ben Assuman Karikari who made the appeal on behalf of his colleague farmers told GBC’s Radio Ghana in an interview that the Ivorian’s have their way of penetrating into Ghana’s cashew market because of its porous nature.
To him the situation, if not checked will, might impede a boom in Ghana cashew industry.
Cashew is a non-traditional export crop that earns Ghana a great deal of foreign exchange and presents opportunities for employment creation and income generation.
The Bono Ahafo catchment area is a hub of cashew farming. Cashew farmers on this stretch have been clamoring for good producer prices for their produce for years.
They say the price fluctuation of their harvest is having a toll on their Livelihoods.
Speaking to the GBC at Aboabo number 4, the representative of cashew farmers in the area, Nana Ben Asuman, said in 2017 the price of a tong of cashew nuts was GH¢700 and within 2018-2019 it shot up to GH¢900.
According to him the price as it stands now is pegged at GH¢600 indicating the fall of cashew farmer’s income thereby bringing hardships on them.
Nana Asuman Karikari appealed to the government to up its game to secure good market for cashew farmers.
“Every day about 19 articulated trucks from Cote d’Ivoire make a transit to Ghana through Jaman North and South, Dormaa, Kwame Seikrom and Nkrankwanta to the Tema Harbor which is not helping the cashew industry in Ghana”.
“We blame the government for allowing the Ivorian cashew processors to pass through Ghana before they would export their cashew nuts”.
Nana Ben Asuman said if their plea is not heeded it will be difficult for the government to get a single vote from cashew farmers in the Bono, Bono East and Ahafo regions in the upcoming December 7 general elections.
“If government wants our votes, he should close the Ghana-Cote d’Ivoire borders or else we the cashew farmers in the Bono, Bono East and Ahafo regions would vote against him come December 7th, 2020 general elections.
Story by: Daniel Donkor.