TCDA, MoFA GIZ ComCashew hold workshop on cashew policy options for stakeholders

The Tree Crop Development Authority (TCDA), the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), and GIZ ComCashew have organized an insightful workshop to train and consult stakeholders in the execution of a strategic plan to develop Ghana’s cashew sector.

The workshop which was supported by the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) and the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) was aimed at introducing the TCDA and key stakeholders to existing policy options within the cashew space, global trends in the cashew market, regulatory measures adopted by other producing countries around the world, and the status and prospects of cashew and by-product processing in Ghana and the sub-region.

With participation from the world’s largest producer of cashew, India and African giant, Côte d’Ivoire, the TCDA received firsthand consultation and benefited from their expertise and insights to be replicated in the Ghanaian cashew sector.

Mr. Foster Boateng, Deputy Director, in charge of Operations at TCDA, encouraged the collaborations of the various stakeholders in helping to achieve the objectives of the Authority.

He explained that “the TCDA, which was inaugurated in September 2020, as a regulatory body for six tree crops, is currently developing a five-year National Tree Crop Strategy”, adding that, “we are also looking at a developing a digital platform to consolidate all cashew farmers and eliminate the problem of geographic boundaries. With this achieved, we can interact with stakeholders consistently while providing them resources to increase productivity.”

The Executive Director of ComCashew Initiative, Ms. Rita Weidenger, revealed that an area of interest to GIZ/ComCashew and its founder, SECO, in Ghana, was to support the creation of a well-regulated cashew sector. Hence, GIZ/ComCashew sought to support the TCDA with policy advice and guidance in the development of regulatory measures for the Ghanaian cashew sector.

“GIZ/ComCashew has, therefore, partnered other development partners through the program to support the processes from the drafting of the Tree Crop Development Bill through its eventual ratification into an Act,” she added.

The Deputy Head of Corporation, Swiss Embassy, Mrs. Anne Schick, advised TCDA to not only focus on cashew production but also include in their 5-year strategy a tree planting initiative.

She added that her country was ready to work with Ghana to improve the cashew environment for the sector and to enable farmers and other value chain operators to benefit from their work.