GHANA CASHEW WEEKGHANA CASHEW WEEKFARMER EXPERIENCEFARMER EXPERIENCE

ON THE OCCASION OF NATIONAL ON THE OCCASION OF NATIONAL WEEK CELEBRATION: ALISA WEEK CELEBRATION: ALISA

HOTEL, ACCRA. APRIL 17 HOTEL, ACCRA. APRIL 17 –– 18, 200718, 2007

BEFORE I JOIN ADRABEFORE I JOIN ADRA

�� Became ADRA client in 1997Became ADRA client in 1997

�� Before Joining Adra Farmer Groups, I Was Before Joining Adra Farmer Groups, I Was Farming Maize, Yam Etc.Farming Maize, Yam Etc.

�� Started Cultivating Cashew When I Realized Started Cultivating Cashew When I Realized Cashew Has The Potential to ensure food Cashew Has The Potential to ensure food security and give more income to farmers.security and give more income to farmers.

�� Elected secretary to Elected secretary to ‘‘ObreObre Nye Nye KwaKwa Cashew Cashew Farmers Association in Farmers Association in KoaseKoase near near TechimanTechiman in in the the BrongBrong AhafoAhafo region.region.

SUPPORT RECEIVED FROM SUPPORT RECEIVED FROM ADRAADRA

�� ADRA supported the group members with ADRA supported the group members with the following the following

�� Cash for Land PreparationCash for Land Preparation�� FertilizersFertilizers�� Cashew SeedsCashew Seeds�� Seed MaizeSeed Maize�� WellengtonWellengton BootsBoots�� Cutlasses EtcCutlasses Etc

NUMBER OF ACRES I PLANTEDNUMBER OF ACRES I PLANTED

�� ADRA supported me with 4 acres for the ADRA supported me with 4 acres for the five year period, 1997 five year period, 1997 --2001.2001.

�� I expanded this by cultivating additional 3 I expanded this by cultivating additional 3 acres within the same period.acres within the same period.

�� I have started another 5 acres last year. I have started another 5 acres last year. The total is 12 acres.The total is 12 acres.

TECHNICAL TRAINING TECHNICAL TRAINING RECEIVEDRECEIVED

�� pest controlpest control�� manure applicationmanure application�� row plantingrow planting�� pruning in cashewpruning in cashew�� Cashew Harvesting techniquesCashew Harvesting techniques�� techniques in beekeepingtechniques in beekeeping�� Health and sanitation etc. all these are Health and sanitation etc. all these are

attributed to USAID through ADRAattributed to USAID through ADRA--Ghana.Ghana.

YIELDSYIELDS

yearyear

37,460,0037,460,0000

8,4008,400105105TotalTotal

12,600,0012,600,0000

7736003600454520072007

11,900,0011,900,0000

5.55.52,6492,649333320062006

9,360,0009,360,000331,4401,440181820052005

9,000,0009,000,0001.5 1.5 7207209920042004

Yield/acre Yield/acre (bags)(bags)

kiloskilosbagsbags

Value Value ((cediscedis))YieldYield

BENEFITSBENEFITS-- PART IPART I

�� Realized a total of Realized a total of 37, 460,00037, 460,000 from 2004 from 2004 to 2007to 2007

�� The realized income together with sales The realized income together with sales from honey production have been used to from honey production have been used to undertake the following:undertake the following:

�� 55--bed room housebed room house�� Motor bikeMotor bike�� Mobile phoneMobile phone

BENEFITS BENEFITS -- PART 2PART 2

�� Child educationChild education

�� Several Awards includingSeveral Awards including

�� 2003 Municipal Best farmer in Bee 2003 Municipal Best farmer in Bee Keeping, Keeping, TechimanTechiman

�� 2006 Municipal Best Farmer in Agro2006 Municipal Best Farmer in Agro--forestryforestry

�� 2006, among the best 5 ADRA Cashew 2006, among the best 5 ADRA Cashew Farmers at a farmerFarmers at a farmer’’s Day Celebrations Day Celebration

BENEFITS BENEFITS ––PART 3PART 3

�� Local Marketing agent for an exporterLocal Marketing agent for an exporter

�� A solid social security in old age.A solid social security in old age.

PROBLEMS & SOLUTION PROBLEMS & SOLUTION ––PART IPART I

��PESTS PESTS SolutionSolution�� Adoption of good management practices Adoption of good management practices �� control by biological control by biological �� the use of recommended insecticides.the use of recommended insecticides.

�� Mass spraying of all Cashew Plantations by Mass spraying of all Cashew Plantations by Government.Government.

��BUSH FIRESBUSH FIRES•• District assemblies should enforce existing laws.District assemblies should enforce existing laws.

Problems & SOLUTION Problems & SOLUTION –– PART 2PART 2

�� Marketing ProblemsMarketing Problems

•• Price is reducing: Price is reducing:

Year Price Year Price 20052005 == ¢¢6,500 per kg6,500 per kg

20062006 == ¢¢4,500 per kg4,500 per kg

20072007 == ¢¢3,500 per kg3,500 per kg

Problems & Solution Problems & Solution –– PART 3PART 3

�� Government should make it possible to involve Government should make it possible to involve Cashew Farmer Associations in the districts and Cashew Farmer Associations in the districts and regions in all Price meetings with the Buyers regions in all Price meetings with the Buyers and Exporters at the beginning of the seasonand Exporters at the beginning of the season

�� A lasting solution will be to set up a regulatory A lasting solution will be to set up a regulatory Body similar to COCOBOD to regulate the Body similar to COCOBOD to regulate the marketing of Cashew in the Country.marketing of Cashew in the Country.

General SuggestionsGeneral Suggestions

�� Government should give more resources Government should give more resources to the Cashew Development Project, CDP to the Cashew Development Project, CDP to enable it increase its scale of to enable it increase its scale of operations.operations.

�� Government should also consider giving Government should also consider giving additional resources and support to ADRA additional resources and support to ADRA to enable it reach out to the numerous to enable it reach out to the numerous resource poor farmers in the country.resource poor farmers in the country.

�� THANK FOR YOUR ATTENTIONTHANK FOR YOUR ATTENTION