Ghana eyes expansion of cashew apple industry

The Chief Executive Officer of the Tree Crops Development Authority (TCDA), Dr Andrew Osei Ankrah, has underscored the economic potential of the cashew apple, urging stakeholders to shift attention beyond the nut to fully utilise the entire fruit.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Regional Cashew Apple Valorisation Conference and Exhibition held in Accra on April 30, 2026, Dr Osei Ankrah noted that while the cashew nut remains widely known and commercially exploited, it accounts for only about 10 percent of the fruit, with the remaining 90 percent often going to waste.

According to him, this underutilised portion presents significant opportunities for value addition, job creation, and income generation for farmers, processors and other players along the value chain.

“The cashew fruit as a whole has enormous potential. What we are currently making use of is just the nut, which is about 10 per cent, while 90 per cent goes to waste. Yet, that 90 per cent can create income, jobs and industrial opportunities,” he stated.

Dr Osei Ankrah explained that the conference, organised in collaboration with development partners such as GIZ, is aimed at showcasing the untapped potential of the cashew apple and encouraging investment in its processing.

He noted that the initiative aligns with the government’s broader agenda to promote industrialisation and value addition within the agricultural sector.

“As the President has indicated, we must be investment-driven and create opportunities from our resources. This conference is to expose the potential of the cashew apple and demonstrate what can be achieved from it,” he added.

Also speaking at the event, Deputy Minister of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Samuel Ahi, called for increased investment in cashew apple processing to unlock new economic opportunities within Ghana’s agricultural value chain.

According to him, although Ghana’s cashew industry has grown steadily and remains a key component of the country’s non-traditional export sector, significant value continues to be lost due to the underutilisation of cashew apples.

He explained that for many years, attention within the sector has largely focused on raw cashew nuts, while the cashew apple, despite its economic potential, has often been left to waste on farms across producing communities.

“The cashew apple can be processed into juice, concentrates, animal feed, cosmetics, biogas, and other industrial products. With the right investment and technology, it can support small, medium, and large-scale enterprises while increasing farmers’ incomes,” he said.

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