Cashew farmers in the Bono East Region are accusing the government of abandoning them to economic hardships as tonnes of their produce are left to rot due to the absence of ready market.
A cash crop that has been a dependable source of income has become a burden as farmers across the region now lament over their inability to sell their produce, pushing households to the brink of financial distress.
The lack of ready market for their produce is part of the current agricultural crisis that has spread beyond cocoa to multiple crop sectors.
The farmers expressed their concerns when the Minority Caucus, led by the Chief Whip and Member of Parliament for Nsawam-Adoagyiri, Mr Frank Annoh-Dompreh, toured key farming communities, including Kintampo South, Nkoranza North, and Nkoranza South as part of its ongoing nationwide engagement with farmers.
During the interactions, scores of cashew farmers openly shared their frustrations, describing a situation where harvested produce remains unsold while household incomes continue to decline.
Farmers lamented that despite expectations of government intervention, particularly through support mechanisms such as Buffer Stock and market facilitation, little has been done to address their plight.
They appealed to the government to urgently release funds and implement policies that will attract buyers and stabilise the market, warning that continued neglect could collapse the cashew sector in the region.
The situation is not limited to cashew farmers alone.
Producers of maize, rice, yams, and other cereals across the Bono East Region are facing similar challenges, including price drops, lack of buyers, and rising input costs.
Many farmers decried that the absence of a reliable market system has left them at the mercy of middlemen who dictate unfavourable prices, worsening their economic conditions.
The Bono East engagements form part of a broader tour by the Minority Caucus aimed at gathering firsthand accounts of the challenges confronting farmers across the country.
Since the commencement of the tour in the region, the team has engaged farmers in Atebubu-Amantin, Pru West, Kintampo North, and adjoining areas, where consistent concerns have emerged around delayed payments, poor market access, and inadequate government support.
Assurance from Minority
Addressing the farmers, the Minority Chief Whip, Mr Annoh-Dompreh assured them that their concerns would be carried to Parliament and the national stage, stressing that the Minority remains committed to advocating for policies that protect farmers’ livelihoods and strengthen the agricultural sector.
He emphasised the need for urgent government action to restore confidence in farming and prevent further decline in agricultural productivity.
By Collins Adu-Gyamfi
