Cashew farmers urged to form vibrant association

Gonasua(B/A), Aug. 15, GNA - Mr John Adduquaye, an Agricultural Business Consultant has advised cashew farmers to form vibrant associations to enable them have access to credit facilities to promote and expand their businesses.

He said government had allocated GH=A21.9 million (19 billion cedis) to cashew farmers this year, as compared to GH=A2600,000 (six billion cedis) last year at the Agricultural Development Bank and advised them to access the loans to increase productivity. Mr Adduquaye gave the advice at a sensitization seminar at Gonasua in the Jaman South District in the Brong-Ahafo Region. It was to train the farmers to ensure good cultural practices for cashew production, technical know how, good planting, harvesting and marketing.

Pastor Paul Swilhin Heinno Baiden, Chairman of Jaman South Cashew Farmers Association said plans were far advanced to establish cashew processing factory in the district.

He said IFAD and Berekum Branch of Agricultural Development Bank had agreed to grant a 250,000-dollar loan facility to the association to procure the processing machine.

Mr Peter Gyan, Brong-Ahafo Regional Best Farmer, advised cashew farmers to seek technical advice from the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to enhance productivity.