Farmers across the Bono East Region are raising urgent concerns over the absence of reliable markets for their produce, a situation, they say, is pushing them into deep financial distress as large quantities of cashew nuts go to waste.
What was once considered a growing alternative to cocoa farming is now facing a similar crisis, with cashew producers bearing the brunt of market failures.
In districts such as Kintampo South, Nkoranza North, and Nkoranza South, farmers report being left stranded with tonnes of harvested cashew nuts but no buyers, forcing many to watch their produce deteriorate.
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The farmers’ concerns came to light during a fact-finding tour by the Minority Caucus in Parliament, led by Chief Whip and Member of Parliament for Nsawam-Adoagyiri, Frank Annoh-Dompreh. The tour is part of efforts to assess the state of agriculture across key producing regions.
Many of the affected farmers described the situation as devastating, noting that cashew farming remains their primary source of income.
They accused the government of failing to deliver on key interventions, including market support systems and the operationalization of buffer stock mechanisms to absorb excess produce.
“We are suffering. Our cashews are rotting while our pockets are empty,” one distressed farmer said, warning that the sector risks total collapse if immediate steps are not taken to stabilize the market and provide access to buyers.
The crisis, however, extends beyond cashew production. Farmers cultivating maize, rice, and yams also shared similar frustrations, citing falling farm-gate prices, rising costs of inputs such as fertilizers, and exploitation by middlemen who take advantage of the absence of structured markets.
The Minority’s tour has so far covered Atebubu-Amantin, Pru West, and Kintampo North, with the team gathering what they describe as compelling evidence of a broader agricultural downturn.
Addressing the farmers, Annoh-Dompreh assured them that their concerns would be presented in Parliament. He pledged that the Minority would push for urgent government intervention to revive the sector, restore confidence among producers, and safeguard rural livelihoods.
“The government must act decisively to prevent a total decline in productivity,” he stressed, emphasizing the need for immediate policy and financial support to rescue the struggling agricultural sector.