President John Mahama says his government will support cashew farmers in the country to achieve their production level through the creation of a cashew marketing board.
Speaking to a 49 member delegation which comprised of some selected cashew farmers and stakeholders from seven districts of the Brong Ahafo region, at the Flagstaff House, he said plans were underway to rope in the Ghana Export and Import (Exim) Bank which would be established within the year to assist the farmers to harness their potentials in cashew growing.
Cashew farmers in the Brong Ahafo and some parts of Northern region were aggrieved,last month following a ban that was imposed on the exportation of raw cashew nuts by the Trades and Industry minister, Dr Ekow Spio Garbrah.
The ban scared some merchants who were trading in cashew nuts in Techiman, Debibi,Banda and Sampa,compelling them to to leave the country.
Some farmers had to sell their nuts to local buyers at cheap prices whilst others had theirs rot in their farms,an incident that led to some farmers calling on the president for support.
The farmers,led by Mr Eric Opoku, Brong Ahafo Regional minister were at the Presidency to appeal to President Mahama to set up a board for cashew farmers and withdraw the suspended policy that was to ban the export of cashew nuts from Ghana.
Responding to the petition from Odeneho Afram Brempong III, the Omanhene of Suma Traditional Area on behalf of the farmers, President Mahama said his government was committed to expanding local cash crops such as coffee and cashew through various supports to boost its performance on the international market.
He reiterated that governance was about service to the people and so once a policy was not in the interest of the farmers, then it needed to be scrapped.
He promised to notify Nananom and the stakeholders for their approval when Parliament approves the bill.
President Mahama also added that the Ministry of Trade and Industry would soon engage the cashew farmers and processors to finding lasting solutions to their challenges.
Story by: Henryson Okrah/www.dayzEntertainment.com
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