Kintampo Cashew Farmers cry out over market manipulation by unauthorised buyers

Cashew farmers in Kintampo in the Bono East Region have expressed deep frustration over the activities of unauthorised buyers who, they allege, are manipulating prices and threatening the sustainability of the cashew industry in the area.

The farmers say these buyers are destabilising the market by offering inconsistent and often unfair prices for their produce, a practice that could collapse the cashew business if not checked.

In an interview with the press, a cashew farmer, Bright Opare, lamented that the actions of these buyers are undermining years of effort by genuine farmers who have been trained to improve the quality and market value of their cashew products. He called on the government to intervene swiftly to curb the situation, describing it as “a canker destroying our livelihoods.”

According to the farmers, the unauthorised buyers have been purchasing cashew nuts for as low as GH¢5 per kilo, far below the standard price of GH¢15 per kilo, under the pretext that the nuts do not meet quality standards.

“We are appealing to the government to step in before things escalate,” said Madam Dora Agyeman, another cashew farmer. “If this deceptive style of buying continues, we may not have a viable cashew market in the near future,” added Kofi Badu, also a farmer in the area.

Former chairman of the Cashew Growers Association in Kintampo, Mr. Emmanuel Okrah, urged the government to prioritise the cashew sector as part of efforts to boost the local economy. He advocated for the establishment of more cashew processing factories to add value to raw nuts and create jobs for the youth.

Mr. Okrah further noted that cashew products could be processed into wine, alcohol, and other exportable goods that generate foreign exchange. He encouraged the government to recognise cashew farming as a profitable venture capable of reducing unemployment and improving living standards across the region.