The Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia says the government of President Akufo-Addo has fulfilled its manifesto promise of prioritising the cultivation of cashew in the country.
Assuring cashew farmers in the Bono Region and the country as a whole, Dr. Bawumia, who spoke in an exclusive interview with Nimdie FM in Sunyani last night, said the passage of the Tree Crop Development Authority Bill by Parliament is an indication of the President’s commitment towards improving the welfare of cashew farmers.
Dr. Bawumia is currently on a two-day tour of the Bono Region, the hub of cashew farming in the country, and he has been explaining government’s policies on cashew and other crops to the people.
He said, the passage of the Tree Crop Development Authority Bill, has paved the way for the establishment of the Tree Crop Development Authority, to oversee research, marketing and pricing of cashew, and other crops, just as the Cocoa Marketing Board does for cocoa.
Dr. Bawumia noted further that government decided to pay more attention to other crops apart from cocoa in order to realise full benefits for both the state and farmers.
“Cocao was a mono-crop but we had to look at other crops like cashew, mango, palm nut, etc hence the establishment of the Tree Crops Development Authority. The bill has been passed and the President will soon inaugurate it,” Dr. Bawumia said.
“It will help cashew farmers because the Tree Crop Development Authority will be in charge of research, marketing and pricing of cashew to ensure that they manage pricing.”
“This will ensure that cashew farmers will receive attention just as cocoa farmers do.”
Dr. Bawumia added that the passage of the bill was a culmination of a process the President started in fulfillment of his manifesto pledge to cashew farmers.
“We didn’t start it now. It is a manifesto promise and we started the process of fulfilling it, which has manifested in the passing of the bill.”
“The President is really committed to the cultivation of cashew and other crops.”
“Apart from this, the cashew factory we are building under one district one factory in the Tain and Banda areas also help cashew farmers a lot in the region when completed.”
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