Cashew sector sits on US$660m revenue potential

By Wisdom JONNY-NUEKPE

The Tree Crops Development Authority (TCDA) has estimated that the country’s cashew industry could generate more than US$660million in annual revenue if the sector is supported with effective regulation, adequate processing infrastructure and strong export facilitation.

Dr. Andy Osei Okrah, Chief Executive Officer of the Tree Crops Development Authority (TCDA), disclosed this projection during a stakeholder engagement in the Bono Region, where the authority brought together farmers, processors, aggregators and traditional leaders to discuss regulatory reforms, pricing structures and market expansion strategies.

The forum sought to strengthen collaboration across the cashew value chain while deepening understanding of TCDA regulations, licensing requirements and pricing mechanisms.

Cashew is one of Ghana’s most valuable export commodities, playing a critical role in non-traditional export earnings and rural employment.

However, the TCDA acknowledged that weak regulation, inconsistent pricing and limited processing capacity have prevented the sector from reaching its full economic potential.

The commodity is one of six high-value tree crops identified under the government’s Tree Crops Development Agenda.

The TCDA is currently rolling out measures to stabilise farm-gate prices, enforce licensing requirements and ensure transparency across the value chain. These interventions, the authority says, are intended to protect farmers from market exploitation, attract investment into local processing facilities and strengthen the country’s position as a leading cashew exporter in West Africa.

The authority is also developing a national pricing framework to guide buyers, processors and exporters. The framework is expected to introduce predictability and fairness, ensuring that both farmers and investors benefit from a stable and competitive market environment.

The goal, officials say, goes beyond exporting raw nuts to building a robust cashew economy that promotes industrial processing, job creation and higher export earnings.

Industry experts project that with the right policies, Ghana could rival Côte d’Ivoire and Nigeria in regional cashew exports while expanding domestic processing to capture more value locally.

Currently, the economy exports about US$300million worth of cashew annually, but more than 90 percent of production is shipped as raw nuts rather than processed kernels. This represents a major missed opportunity for value addition and economic growth.

The cashew sector directly supports about 300,000 farmers and an estimated 200,000 others involved in trading, transport and processing.

Production is concentrated in seven regions, with Bono, Bono East and Ahafo as major hubs. In 2020, Ghana exported about 139,743 metric tonnes of raw cashew nuts, earning US$251.4million, with Vietnam and India as the main processing destinations.

TCDA’s renewed focus on regulation, transparency and innovation aligns with government efforts to diversify export earnings beyond cocoa and build a more resilient agricultural economy driven by industrialisation and inclusive growth.

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