Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia says the Akufo-Addo led administration has fulfilled its manifesto promise of prioritising the cultivation of cashew in the country.

Assuring cashew farmers in the Bono Region in an exclusive interview at Sunyani, the Vice President said the passage of the Tree Crop Development Authority Bill by Parliament is an indication that the President is committed to improving the welfare of cashew farmers in the country.

Dr. Bawumia is currently on a two-day tour of the Bono Region, known as the hub of cashew farming, and 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 way for the establishment of the Tree Crop Development Authority and has also ensured research, marketing and pricing of cashew, and other crops, just as the Cocoa Marketing Board does for cocoa.

Dr. Bawumia further noted that government decided to pay more attention to other crops apart from coacoa in order to allow the nation benefit fully from them.

“Cocoa 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 inuagurate the Authority,” 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 factories we are building under one district one factory in the Tain and Banda areas will also help cashew farmers a lot in the region when completed.”