Over 100 cashew sector actors receive training to boost

A total of 103 participants from eight African countries have benefited from the flagship Master Training Programme (MTP), aimed at strengthening the cashew value chain across the continent.

Drawn from Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Nigeria, Senegal, and Sierra Leone, the participants represented key segments of the sector, including primary production, processing, and research.

The training programme held in Sunyani, Bono Regional capital was designed to build capacity across all levels of the cashew industry. The programme offered a unique blend of theoretical instruction and practical application to enhance expertise in production, processing, marketing, and policy-making.

The weeklong second session 19th edition of the MTP focused on enhancing participants’ understanding on the development of improved planting material and the importance of good agricultural practices (GAP). Participants also received training on nursery management, pest and disease control, plantation establishment and top-working, and climate-smart planting material development.

The training also integrated cross-cutting themes such as gender inclusion, facilitation skills, and training material development to ensure a holistic and inclusive approach to cashew sector growth.

Speaking at the event, the Bono Regional Minister, Joseph Addae-Akwaboah, in a speech read on his behalf, urged stakeholders to develop innovative strategies and investment plans to unlock the full potential of the cashew value chain.

“Africa must transition from being a raw cashew nut exporter to a hub for value-added processing and strategic investment.

“Government remains committed to supporting this shift through policy reforms, infrastructure development, and public-private partnerships,” he said.

The Project Leader of the GIZ/MOVE/ComCashew initiative, Beate Weiskopf, highlighted the project’s commitment to gender equality. “GIZ and its partners are driving gender transformation by ensuring equal participation of men and women, with youth making up at least 50percent of participants. We firmly believe the cashew sector can only achieve global competitiveness when both women and men contribute meaningfully to value chain development.”

The African Cashew Alliance (ACA) organised the programme in collaboration with the Market Oriented Value Chains for Jobs and Growth in the ECOWAS Region (MOVE), Ghana’s Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), and the Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana (CRIG). Funding support came from the European Union (EU) and the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS).

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