Mr. Baah Abdullaih, a cashew farmer from Ghana’s Bono Region and the 2025 Dormaa Central Municipal Best Farmer, has called on the government to establish a clear pricing policy to regulate the country’s cashew market. He argued that the absence of a structured pricing framework leaves farmers exposed to exploitation, as buyers can dictate inconsistent and sometimes unfair prices despite the significant investment and labour involved in cashew production.
Speaking in an interview at Amasu, Mr. Abdullaih noted that without a standardized market control system, farmers are often short-changed. He believes that introducing a transparent and well-defined pricing regime would help sanitize the sector and ensure fair returns for producers. Drawing comparisons with Ghana’s cocoa sector, he suggested the introduction of guaranteed or benchmark pricing to stabilize incomes and encourage farmers to expand production and improve quality.
He also proposed the introduction of a cashew farmer card to improve documentation, traceability, and accountability within the industry. In addition, Mr. Abdullaih urged the government to fast-track the establishment of a Cashew Board to coordinate the sector and represent producers’ interests at the national level. According to him, such a body would help address key challenges, including pricing, market access, and access to inputs.
Beyond pricing reforms, he emphasized the need to strengthen farmer associations to enhance collective bargaining power and improve engagement with policymakers and buyers. He further highlighted the importance of dedicated extension services for cashew farmers, similar to those available in the cocoa sector, to provide technical support on agronomic practices, pest control, and post-harvest handling.
Describing cashew as an “economic tree” with significant potential to improve rural livelihoods, particularly in the Bono Region and other growing areas, Mr. Abdullaih expressed optimism that with proper institutional support, transparent pricing mechanisms, and stronger farmer organization, the cashew industry could become a more sustainable and profitable sector for producers nationwide.
