The Ghana Wildlife Society (GWS), together with a delegation of women champions and conservation partners from Côte d’Ivoire, has visited Bunyanso Farms Limited to explore opportunities in cashew production, processing, value addition and integrated agricultural development.
The visit formed part of the Ghana–Côte d’Ivoire Women Champions Exchange Programme under the AfricElle Project, sponsored by NABU.
The initiative provides a platform for women from both countries to exchange experiences, learn from successful livelihood programmes and explore practical approaches to strengthening women’s participation in climate-resilient livelihoods, sustainable agriculture and conservation.
Call for greater participation of women in cashew value chain
During the visit, the Municipal Officer for Women in Agriculture Development (WIAD) at the Department of Agriculture in West Gonja Municipal, Madam Zubaidatu A. Amidu, called for increased participation of women across Ghana’s cashew value chain.
She identified opportunities for women in areas including cashew processing, value addition, agribusiness, entrepreneurship, skills development, access to finance and markets.
Madam Amidu also stressed the need to create more opportunities for women and young people to benefit from agricultural production and agro-processing enterprises.
Extension services key to improving productivity
The Head of Extension Services at the Department of Agriculture, West Gonja Municipal, Mr Francis Opong, highlighted the role of effective agricultural extension services in improving cashew production and productivity.
He said continuous farmer education and the adoption of Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) were essential to increasing yields, maintaining healthy plantations and promoting sustainable production.
Opong welcomed the exchange with the Côte d’Ivoire delegation, noting that knowledge and experiences from both countries could help strengthen extension delivery and improve the capacity of cashew farmers.
Sustainable cashew production can improve livelihoods
Chief Executive Officer of Bunyanso Farms Limited and Founder and Executive Director of NORGIID GHANA, Iddrisu Sumani (Azambuja), said the visit demonstrated how agricultural development, women’s livelihoods and environmental conservation could be integrated.
He noted that sustainable cashew production, agroforestry and responsible land management, combined with value addition, could improve farmer incomes, create employment and contribute to environmental sustainability.
Sumani, who also serves as President of the West Gonja District Co-operative Cashew Farmers & Marketing Union Ltd. and a farmers’ representative on the Cashew Council of Ghana, expressed appreciation to GWS and the Côte d’Ivoire delegation for visiting Bunyanso Farms.
He said Bunyanso Farms, in partnership with NORGIID GHANA, remained committed to working with government institutions, farmer organisations, conservation groups, private-sector actors and development partners to promote sustainable agriculture and expand opportunities for value addition.
Stakeholders call for stronger farmer collaboration
Mr Abdulai Abdul Mumin, General Manager of the Ghana Co-operative Cashew Farmers and Marketing Association Ghana Ltd., Board Member of the Cashew Council of Ghana and Board Member of the Tree Crops Development Authority representing cashew farmers, emphasised the importance of strong farmer organisations and effective linkages throughout the cashew value chain.
He called for stronger collaboration among farmers, government agencies, processors, private businesses and development partners to improve productivity, expand market access and increase farmer incomes.
Abdul Mumin also highlighted the importance of Ghana–Côte d’Ivoire knowledge exchange, particularly in improved production practices, farmer organisation and cooperative development, processing and value addition.
Women explore new opportunities in cashew processing
The delegation explored opportunities in the processing of cashew apples and kernels, as well as potential areas for women to participate in processing, packaging, marketing, entrepreneurship and other stages of the value chain.
The experience highlighted how women can move beyond producing raw agricultural commodities to becoming active participants in processing, value addition and market development.
The Côte d’Ivoire delegation, led by Ms Diabaté Maboridjon of SOS Forêts, and the GWS team, led by Executive Director Dr Sandra Owusu-Gyamfi, welcomed the exchange and emphasised the importance of sustained collaboration between women champions and conservation partners in both countries.
The engagement reinforced the need for partnerships among community women, conservation organisations, government institutions, farmer groups and private-sector actors to develop sustainable livelihood opportunities.
Participants expressed a shared commitment to applying lessons from the exchange in their respective communities and strengthening women-led initiatives that promote livelihood improvement, environmental conservation, climate resilience and local economic development.
The visit to Bunyanso Farms Limited, in partnership with NORGIID GHANA, therefore provided more than practical exposure to cashew production and value addition. It demonstrated how integrated agriculture, strategic partnerships and women’s participation in value chains can create economic opportunities while supporting environmental conservation and sustainable development.
Leave a Reply